Neptune man charged after 'vague bomb threat' triggers hospital shelter-in-place and school evacuation
Neptune detectives tracked the call, leading them to Darius Merritt. He was located and detained approximately 40 minutes after the initial threat was received.
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A 37-year-old man is in custody after a "vague bomb threat" forced the evacuation of a high school and a shelter-in-place order at a major regional medical center Tuesday morning.
Darius Merritt, of Neptune, faces multiple criminal charges following a swift multiagency response that brought morning routines to a halt at both Neptune High School and Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
The incident began just after 7 a.m., when a vague threat was phoned into the Neptune Township dispatch center. The caller referenced a potential threat targeting either the high school or the hospital.
First responders immediately coordinated with administrators at Neptune High School, prompting an evacuation that temporarily halted students arrivals and the Jersey Shore University Medical Center was in a shelter in place
Explosive-detection K-9 teams conducted thorough sweeps of both campuses.
No suspicious devices or activities were found.
While protective measures were underway, Neptune detectives tracked the call, leading them to Merritt. He was located and detained approximately 40 minutes after the initial threat was received. After interviewing the suspect and completing the sweeps, investigators determined the threat was specifically directed toward the hospital and was not credible.
