A vehicle found with a grenade and several weapons outside a movie theater in Howell had police evacuate a movie theater late last night.
According to a preliminary statement, Howell Police were called to the Xscape theatre's parking at around 11 p.m. after receiving reports of a threat at that location.
According to police, the source was from a vehicle, and as a precautionary measure, officers evacuated movie patrons, and they were not permitted to return to their cars until the suspect's vehicle was rendered cleared by NJSP Bomb Squad.
Shortly before 11:30 p.m police searched and cleared the car ultimately finding an inert grenade and two handguns in which one was loaded police said in a statement.
Patrons were allowed to return to their vehicles while officers temporarily closed the theater for the night.
The owner of the vehicle was questioned then taken into custody.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
UPDATE 10:20am : ccording to preliminary police, at approximately 8:20 p.m Howell Township Police arrested Jacob Cavanaugh, 24 years old of Manchester and charged him with two counts of unlawful possession of a handgun (2C:39-5b) second degree, and possession of hollow point ammunition (2C:39-3f) fourth degree, after officers discovered the items in his parked vehicle.
The vehicle was in the Xscape Theater parking lot located at 5361 Route 9 in Howell Township, where he is employed and was working at the time of arrest.
An officer was working a routine security detail at the theater when she was approached by management about a concerning report made by another employee.
This employee reported to the manager that Cavanaugh showed him guns in his car earlier in the week.
As a result, Officer Regina engaged Cavanaugh in conversation and was alerted by police communications that Cavanaugh had active east and for his arrest by Milltown Municipal Court for failure to appear on a drug paraphernalia charge and township ordinance violation and Hazlet Township Municipal Court for driving while suspended.
**IMAGE CREDIT**: Howell Police Department