A borough man is being held for psychiatric evaluation after making a bomb threat Wednesday night at Ho-Ho-Kus police headquarters, officials said.
A man is in custody after making a bomb threat at the Ho-Ho-Kus police station, authorities said. (File Photo) John Edwards, 24, walked into the lobby of police headquarters at 9:20 p.m. and said there was a bomb in a black backpack he was carrying, Police Chief Chris Minchin said.
Edwards left the backpack in the lobby and walked out, Minchin said. An officer coming back from break arrested Edwards. Another grabbed the backpack and placed it outside.
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The Bergen County Sheriff's bomb squad was summoned, Minchin said. Police evacuated headquarters and dispatched the fire department and ambulance corps to move their vehicles out of their adjoining buildings. Residents of a nearby home also evacuated.
Police officers, a dispatcher and Edwards relocated to Waldwick Police Headquarters, Minchin said. Calls were rerouted there as well.
At 11 p.m. the bomb squad determined there was no device in the backpack after taking X-rays, Minchin said. Police returned to headquarters shortly after.
Edwards refused to give a statement, Minchin said. He was charged with terroristic threats and false public alarm.
Ho-Ho-Kus Judge Harry Norton set bail at $75,000, with no option to pay 10 percent in cash. Edwards was held at Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus for a 48-hour psychiatric evaluation.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
