Monmouth County Courthouse Evacuated After Bomb Threat: Sheriff

FREEHOLD, NJ — About 650 people had to evacuate from the Monmouth County Courthouse Monday morning after courthouse staff received a bomb threat, the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office said Monday afternoon.

A statement on the sheriff's office's Facebook page did not specify how the threat was made or what time it was received.

Cynthia Scott, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said details on how the threat was made are not being released due to the ongoing investigation. There were approximately 650 people who had to be evacuated, she said.

The sheriff's office said a K-9 unit was brought in to conduct a sweep of the outside perimeter of the courthouse and an interior sweep as well, the post said.

"The results were negative, but as a safety precaution the assignment judge (Lisa P. Thornton) decided to evacuate the courthouse," the sheriff's office said.

The courthouse reopened about 3 p.m., the post said.

“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Division is diligent about protecting those who work and visit the courthouse,” Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said. “We take these threats seriously and fully respond to them to ensure the safety of the public."

Golden said the sheriff's office, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Freehold Borough police are working to find out who is responsible for the "potentially dangerous and disruptive threats.”