Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on February 6, David Giordano, 36, of Toms River, was charged with False Public Alarm in connection with an incident that occurred during the evening hours of Saturday, February 5, in Toms River Township.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, on February 5, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department were dispatched to the area of Hooper Avenue and Washington Street for a report of a suspicious item in the roadway.
Prosecutor Billhimer said that Responding Officers observed a car battery with a power inverter attached to it. A strand of blue LED Christmas lights was plugged into the power inverter and the other end of the lights was attached to a Clorox bleach bottle containing liquid.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, the device was set up in the center of Hooper Avenue between the Ocean County Courthouse and the Ocean County Administration Building.
Out of concern that the device might be explosive in nature, the area between Hooper Avenue, Madison Avenue, and Washington Street was shut down to traffic, Prosecutor Billhimer said.
A subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit, and Berkeley Township Hazardous Materials Unit was able to determine that the device in the roadway was not an improvised explosive device.
Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad and Toms River Township Police Department revealed that Giordano was responsible for placing the device in the roadway.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, on February 6, a warrant was issued for Giordano’s arrest for causing false public alarm. On February 7, Giordano was involved in a motor vehicle accident on the Garden State Parkway near Bloomfield.
Prosecutor Billhimer stated that he was taken to a medical facility in Belleville and treated for his injuries. Prior to his release from the hospital, Giordano was taken into custody by Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department.
Giordano was searched incident to his arrest, and Officers discovered him to be in possession of alprazolam, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, Giordano was additionally charged with Possession of Alprazolam, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Giordano is presently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.