Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk Cleared After Threat: Police

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — Hundreds of people were forced to leave the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk Sunday evening in the wake of a threat to the boardwalk, authorities have confirmed.

Point Pleasant Beach police confirmed they had cleared the boardwalk as a precautionary measure in the wake of the threat. Police would not confirm the nature of the threat, however.

Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy confirmed the sheriff's office was assisting Point Pleasant Beach police with the investigation, bringing in a dog to do a search, but he deferred further questions to Point Beach police.

Residents and touristst tweeted that they had been forced to leave the boardwalk in the area of Jenkinson's Pavilion starting shortly after 10 p.m.

Witnesses said people approaching the boardwalk area were being turned away by police at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Broadway as well as the intersection of Arnold Avenue and Ocean Avenue.

Even those claiming to be residents in the area were being turned away, a witness said.

Point Pleasant Beach police said details on the incident would be provided by investigators at the scene after the situation has been resolved.

One witness told Jersey Shore Hurricane News that a bag was left in the area of the rides.

Jessica Layton, a reporter for CBS 2 News in New York, reported the evacuation on Twitter.