NEPTWICH, NJ — A Neptune man was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly making a bomb threat that prompted an evacuation of a high school and a shelter-in-place order at a hospital.
Darius Merritt, 37, of Neptune, was charged with false public alarms and terroristic threats following the incident.
Neptune Township police received a vague bomb threat by phone at approximately 7:10 a.m. that referenced either Jersey Shore University Medical Center or Neptune High School.
Police, along with the Office of Emergency Management, EMS and fire department personnel, responded and coordinated with school and hospital officials to implement safety procedures.
Neptune High School was evacuated and student arrivals were temporarily halted based on the nature of the threat.
Jersey Shore University Medical Center issued a shelter-in-place order.
Explosive-detection K-9 teams from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and other mutual aid partners thoroughly investigated both locations and found no threats or suspicious activity.
Police identified Merritt as a suspect and located him approximately 40 minutes later.
Following investigation of the two locations and an interview with Merritt, the threat was determined to be directed toward the hospital and not credible.
At 8:50 a.m., students and staff at the school were permitted to re-enter and the hospital shelter-in-place was lifted.
Merritt was also issued a summons for an open container and had an outstanding bench warrant from Asbury Park Municipal Court.
He was transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a detention hearing.
