Crime & Safety
Toms River Officer Hurt Answering Hoax Claim Of Shooting
A motor vehicle crash happened as police were answering a call reporting a possible hostage situation.
TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River police officer was injured Monday while responding to what authorities believe was a hoax stemming from online gaming, police said.
Toms River Police Officer James Colline was taken to Community Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries and released, said Jillian Messina, media specialist for the Toms River Police Department.
Police received a call at 11 a.m. Monday about a shooting and potential hostage situation with a possible pipe bomb at a home on Sierra Drive, Messina said. Officers spoke with the homeowner and those in the house, she said, and the early investigation suggests the incident was a hoax.
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Detective Lou Santora is continuing to investigate it, she said.
Colline was involved in a crash; the other driver was not injured, Messina said. Toms River Police Sgt. Eugene Bachonski is investigating the crash.
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