12-Year-Old Girl Charged In Clown Threat To Toms River School: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A 12-year-old girl from Toms River has been charged with third-degree causing a false public alarm in connection with a hoax clown threat to Toms River Intermediate East, authorities said Wednesday.

She is one of two girls charged Wednesday with the third-degree crime, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office; a 14-year-old South Toms River girl was arrested and charged after claiming she had been chased at a school bus stop Wednesday morning by a clown with a knife.

Toms River police were alerted to an Instagram post on Tuesday evening by a person using the Twitter handle “Killerclownfromnj,” said Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.

The post said: “Some people wanted Toms River Intermediate East Middle School; I will be there at 8:37 sharp on Thursday, October 6th 2016!!” with a series of emojis implying violence, Stocco said.

Stocco said Toms River detectives and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office High Tech Crime Unit worked through the night to evaluate the social media postings and see if there was any credible threat.

Toms River Superintendent David Healy was made aware of the situation and coordinated with the police department to provide extra security measures at all schools within the district, Stocco said.

The investigation identified the perpetrator as a 12-year-old female who attends school within the township, he said. She is facing disciplinary action from the school as well as the criminal count, he said

The investigation was conducted by Toms River Police Detective Jon Turner and members of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office High Tech Unit.

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