Franklin Student Charged With Bomb Threat At High School

FRANKLIN, NJ — A Franklin High School student was charged with making a bomb threat at the school causing an evacuation in January, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

The bomb threat was reportedly called into Franklin High School on Jan. 23 at around 12:45 p.m. causing the school to be evacuated and a search by K-9 officers from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, New Brunswick Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.

• See Related: Bomb Threat Causes Evacuation At Franklin High School

Annissia Gayle, 19, of Marcy Street in the Somerset section of Franklin Township was found to have made the call following an investigation by detectives from Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Franklin Township Police Department, as well as Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) Cyber Task Force (Newark Field Office).

On Thursday, April 3 at around 1:30 p.m. detectives, along with the school resource officer, arrested Gayle without incident.

She was taken to Franklin Township Police Headquarters where she was charged with second-degree creating a false public alarm. Gayle was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100, or the Franklin Township Police Department 732-873-5533, or via the STOPit app. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office is utilizing the STOPit app as a platform to allow concerned citizens to provide information about crimes occurring in Somerset County. This app is completely anonymous and users are able to "chat" in real time with law enforcement, as well as send images and videos about crime. The app also has a Get Help section that provides phone numbers and links to important resources available in Somerset County. The STOPit app can be downloaded to your smartphone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: "SOMERSETNJ".

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either "Crime Stoppers" or "TIPS HOTLINE." All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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