Bomb Squad Called To School After BurlCo Man's 'Suspicious' Behavior: Police

MEDFORD, NJ — A man brought suspected explosives to a school property, prompting a building evacuation and ensuing bomb-squad search Monday in Medford, police said.

Authorities later determined there was no threat to the Burlington County Institute of Technology's Medford Campus. But Gregory T. Nicholas faces several charges after what Medford police called a "suspicious" incident.

The police agency and the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office are investigating his intentions at the school.

Officers responded to BCIT Medford at about 4 p.m. for a report of a person trying to enter the building through multiple doors after having contact with school staff. Arriving law enforcement quickly detained the individual — later identified as Nicholas.

During the investigation, an explosives-detection K9 of the Medford Township Police Department indicated the presence of potentially explosive material in a white van Nicholas brought to school property. The school was evacuated.

The State Police Bomb Squad and several other law-enforcement and first-responding agencies came to the scene at 10 Hawkin Rd. Authorities later confirmed there was no threat within the school or vehicle.

Nicholas, 34, of Medford, was charged with creating a false public alarm, trespassing, possession of a weapon on school property (knife) and hindering his own apprehension. He was placed in the Burlington County Jail.

Responding agencies also included the Evesham and Lumberton police departments, Medford Township Fire and EMS, and the Burlington County Fire Marshal's Office.

BCIT Medford is a vocational-technical public high school.