Terroristic Threats Charges in Paramus NJ

Paramus NJ police are investigating a threatening voice message that resulted in all of the borough’s schools being evacuated.

The threat was received during the early morning hours, prior to the start of school for the day. According to law enforcement, someone called in a threat against schoolchildren in Paramus, New Jersey. The threat was not specific to any particular Paramus school.

Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera spoke with the media and indicated that the threat was delivered on the Paramus Board of Education’s general phone line.

Paramus officials took immediate action after learning of the threatening call and ordered a district-wide evacuation.

While local police investigated the veracity of the threat and tried to determine who placed the phone call, the Paramus NJ mayor posted a Facebook message and told concerned parents that law enforcement was doing everything possible to ensure that “all of the students are 100 percent safe.” The Paramus mayor also said that he was extremely sensitive to the situation and to the parents’ likely anxiety because he is a parent himself.

Although the investigation is still ongoing, authorities have determined that the threat was likely a hoax. In January 2016, Bergen County officials had to lock down or evacuate 26 different schools after an automated phone threat was issued throughout the county. That threat was also determined to be a hoax.

If Paramus NJ police can eventually figure out who phoned in the latest threat, it is likely that the individual would face serious criminal charges for making terroristic threats. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3, a person who threatens to commit any crime of violence with the purpose to terrorize another or to cause evacuation of a building can be charged with a third degree felony. A conviction on third degree terroristic threats charges could result in a sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.

Arrested, Charged with Terroristic Threats Paramus NJ

For additional information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “Hoax Threat Forces Evacuation of Paramus Schools.”