'Suspicious' Man Sends Manahawkin Sunday School Into Lockdown

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — A "suspicious man" believed to be wearing a bulletproof vest sent Sunday school into temporary lockdown on March 17, Stafford police said.

However, the man was just exercising while wearing a weighted vest for added resistance, according to police.

A caller reported seeing a suspicious man walking around the area of McKinley Avenue and Doc Cramer Boulevard on Sunday morning, police said.

He was described as a six-foot tall white man, wearing an orange flannel underneath a bulletproof vest, the caller told police.

At the time, due to sporting events at Doc Cramer and Sunday school at St. Mary's Parish Center, there were children in the area, police said. As police immediately responded, Sunday school was sent into temporary lockdown and parents were asked to stay in their cars until the area was deemed safe, police said.

After canvassing the area, officers identified and made contact with the man in question. They learned the man was exercising in the area, wearing a weighted vest for added resistance, police said. Officers determined that the vest was for exercise and not bulletproof.

Police commended the resident who made the call.

"When tragic incidents occur, all too often it is discovered that suspicious activity had been previously observed, but a citizen was hesitant to make the call," police said. "As a Police Department, we would much rather take the time to proactively investigate a suspicious call, than respond to a tragic incident that has already occurred."

Suspicious activity can be reported by calling 911 or the dispatch center at 609-597-8581.