MEDIA RELEASE - JUNE 2, 2015

CLINTON TOWNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL PLACED ON LOCKDOWN
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III, and Clinton Township Officer in Charge, Lieutenant Douglas Higgins announced that the Clinton Township Middle School was placed on lockdown earlier this morning after an apparent "Swatting" Incident. Swatting is a prank in which anonymous callers phone-in false emergency reports to provoke a large police response.
Hunterdon County SWAT, Clinton Township Police Department, Town of Clinton Police Department, and the High Bridge Police Department responded to the incident and secured the scene. The Spruce Run School was placed on lockout as a precautionary measure.
The Clinton Township Middle School received a threatening phone call at approximately 9:30 am. School officials followed safety procedures and immediately instituted the Standard Response Protocol. District administration responded to the middle school and provided notifications and updates to parents during the incident. The middle school was placed on lockdown and the Spruce Run School was placed on lockout until law enforcement later deemed the threat to be a hoax.
According to Prosecutor Kearns, "Thankfully, the students and staff were not in any danger during this incident. Swatting is not a harmless prank; it is very hazardous and places citizens and law enforcement officers in danger. Creating a false public alarm is a crime and those responsible will be prosecuted."
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-321-0010 or by going to www.crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text messaging "HCTIPS" plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters can also download the free mobile app "Tipsubmit" and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging. All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.
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