NJ Transit Bus Searched After Caller Claims Passengers Are Armed: Police

HOWELL, NJ — A report of three armed passengers on an NJ Transit bus appears to be a hoax possibly sparked by an person who was denied boarding onto the bus, Howell Township police said Thursday.

Howell police received a call reporting three armed males on board an NJ Transit bus Thursday morning, and the caller provided a specific bus number, police said.

The bus was located southbound on Route 9 and it was pulled over near Aldrich Road, police said.

"Initially, there was no response from within the bus," police said. "No one exited as per officer instructions."

It was later determined the passengers could not hear the officers' instructions because of the engine noise inside the bus, police said.

Additional resources that included Freehold Twp Police and Monmouth County Sheriff's Office arrived on scene to assist, and after several minutes the passengers exited and a pat-down search was conducted on each one, police said. Officers then searched the bus, Howell police said. No weapon was located.

The investigation revealed that an argument ensued earlier in Freehold with a subject who was denied entry onto the bus, Howell police said. Shortly thereafter, a telephone call was placed reporting the armed subjects, police said.

"At this time, the report was deemed to be not credible. The passengers subsequently were released from the scene," Howell police said.

The investigation was turned over to NJ Transit Police, Howell police said.

"New Jersey Transit Police take incidents like the one from this morning seriously," said Lisa Torbic, a spokeswoman for NJ Transit. "This is an active investigation that is being conducted by local authorities and the New Jersey Transit Police Department."

Patch file photo