On Thursday, March 22, 2018, at approximately 4:47pm, Hopewell Township Police officers responded to 725 Denow Road, Hopewell Gardens, for the report of a suspicious package. Officers arrived and were informed that a cardboard package with suspicious writing on it had been left just outside of the mail room by an unknown person.
Hopewell Township Police officers, under the command of Lt. William Springer, assisted by Hopewell Valley Emergency Services personnel and members of the Pennington Fire Company, evacuated the east wing of the building as a safety precaution.
Hopewell Township officers, assisted by the Pennington Borough Police Department, closed a section of Denow Road in front of the complex.
A person of interest was quickly developed at the scene and was detained for further investigation.
Members of the New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit, Troopers Adam Cavanaugh and Brett Beyer, responded to the scene to examine the package. At approximately 7pm, the package was deemed to be empty and harmless.
Mercer County Sheriff Officer Neil Jantos and his K-9 partner then conducted a further search of the building. The building was declared safe and residents were able to return to their apartments at approximately 7:25pm.
After further investigation by Detective Alexis Mirra and Officer Vincent Amabile, the person of interest, a 56 years old male, was placed under arrest. The person of interest is a Hopewell Gardens resident, and was charged with false public alarm, terroristic threats, and causing or risking widespread injury or damage and he is currently in custody at the Hopewell Township Police Department. His case will be forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
