Police Confirm Bomb Threat Investigation at High School

At 12:03 p.m. today, the Maplewood Police Department released its weekly blotter and confirmed that the MPD and Essex County Sheriff's Department were investigating a bomb threat at Columbia High School this morning. Information of the threat was received at 8:10 a.m. The blotter, which was forwarded by MPD Captain Paul Conlon, states, "A search of the building was negative for any suspicious items and the students were allowed back into the school and resumed classes." This morning, Captain Kevin Hayes of the Maplewood Fire Department had confirmed the bomb threat investigation as reported in an earlier article.

Here is the complete weekly Maplewood Police blotter:

June 2, 2010: Burglary- A nail salon on Irvington Avenue was broken into sometime during the overnight hours. Entry was gained through a rear door and the store owner reported that cash was stolen from an unsecured drawer near the front of the store.

June 2, 2010: Warrant Arrest- Kenneth Barno, 47, of East Park Street, East Orange, was arrested on six outstanding warrants from South Orange. Mr. Barno was arrested near the Maplewood Train Station on Dunnell Road and transported to South Orange Police.

June 2, 2010: Attempted Burglary- The owner of a store on Parker Avenue reports that someone attempted to gain entry to the rear of the store during the overnight hours. Two windows were found broken but a security screen prevented the actor from entering the store.

June 7, 2010: DWI Arrest- George Merriman, 58, of Chestnut Streety, Orange, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated on Saturday evening. A resident reported observing Mr. Merriman asleep behind the wheel of a car parked on Prospect Street near Park Road and officers located him in a blue Toyota Camry.  Merriman was transported to headquarters and submitted to a breath test which revealed a blood alcohol content of .12%. He was issued summonses for DWI and Driving with a suspended license. 

June 8, 2010: Bomb Threat- At approximately 8:10 am school officials from Columbia High School received information of a bomb threat inside of the school and notified Police. Personnel from the High School made the decision to evacuate the school and a search was conducted by the Maplewood Police and the Essex County Sheriff's Department K-9 unit. A search of the building was negative for any suspicious items and the students were allowed back into the school and resumed classes.