Toms River School Bathroom Wall Threat 'Not Credible': Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A threatening message written in a bathroom at Toms River Intermediate School East prompted a K-9 search there Friday morning before school opened for the day, Toms River police said.

Toms River Township police and Toms River Regional School District officials on Thursday said they were monitoring locally in the wake of a national TikTok challenge that made generalized threats to schools across the country.

School district officials said law enforcement officials had told the district there was no credible threat to Toms River schools from the TikTok challenge, but officials remained on alert and had increased police presence at the schools.

When the threat was found at Toms River Intermediate School East, Toms River Sgt. Joshua Kuhlwein and Sgt. Matthew Broderick responded with their K-9 partners to sweep the area and clear the building, police said.

It was deemed safe before school opened, and the threat was found to not be credible, police said.

"Ensuring the safety and security of all students and staff, as well as our community, is our utmost priority," police said in a post on the department's Facebook page. "Our partnership with the Toms River Regional Schools and administration is imperative in ensuring the safety of everyone."

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