Hazlet Minor Claimed Bomb Was In NJ College Dorm, Authorities Say

HAZLET, NJ — A minor from Hazlet has been arrested after claiming there was a bomb in a dorm room at Georgian Court University, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.

The minor, whose identity has not been released, has been charged with terroristic threats and causing false public alarm, authorities said.

The Prosecutor's Office declined to release the minor's age or any other information about them, citing state law regarding juveniles charged with criminal offenses.

Georgian Court officials notified Lakewood Police at about 2:45 p.m. on Thursday that they had received a call saying there was a bomb in a dorm room and the university's buildings were evacuated, authorities said.

Lakewood Police and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit checked and cleared each building at the university before allowing people to return to them, authorities said.

• Read More: Bomb Threat Under Investigation At NJ College, Police Say

Investigators from the Gangs/Intelligence/Homeland Security Unit of the Prosecutor's Office, along with Lakewood detectives and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, determined the phone call came from a minor residing in Hazlet, the Prosecutor's Office said.

The minor is currently being held in the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center, according to authorities.

"I want to thank all of the law enforcement officers that responded quickly and worked through the night," Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. "This was a great example of multiple law enforcement agencies working cohesively to ensure the campus was safe and to ultimately locate this juvenile and take him into custody."

Hazlet Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office assisted in the investigation, Billhimer said.