Manalapan seniors graduate
outside after bomb threat
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
DAVE BENJAMIN Parents leave Manalapan High School after a bomb scare interrupted graduation ceremonies June 19. The ceremony was moved from the gym to the football field. No device was found inside the building or on the grounds.
MANALAPAN — A bomb scare interrupted Thursday’s graduation ceremonies at Manalapan High School. The threat caused the high school to be evacuated and searched, and led to graduation ceremonies being moved from inside the school to the football field.
No bomb was found in the building or on the grounds.
"It saddens me think that someone intentionally disrupted a monumental milestone in the lives of our graduates and their families," said James Wasser, superintendent of schools of the Freehold Regional High School District.
Wasser was in attendance for the ceremony at Manalapan. His son, Keith, was one of the graduates.
With inclement weather covering western Monmouth County on Thursday morning, FRHSD administrators decided to hold graduation ceremonies at all six high schools indoors.
The Manalapan graduation was to have been held in the gymnasium. An expected overflow of guests would have been able to see the graduation ceremonies on closed circuit television in the auditorium.
According to Manalapan Police Department Deputy Chief Stuart Brown, each senior received six guest tickets to the event; two tickets for the ceremony in the gymnasium, if held indoors; two tickets for the closed circuit television viewing in the auditorium; and two tickets to the athletic field, in the event the graduation ceremonies were held outdoors.
All six guest tickets would have been acceptable if the graduation ceremonies were held outdoors.
"There is the possibility that there may have been counterfeit tickets," Brown said. "That is being investigated."
According to a police report, officers encountered some "poorly behaved" parents and students who were upset at the crowded conditions inside the school.
At 5:58 p.m. a bomb threat from within the high school was made to 911.
"The call came through 911 and was handled by Monmouth County," Brown reported.
At 6 p.m., the 538 graduates began their processional walk into the gymnasium, but before the graduates had a chance to take their seats, the students and their parents were asked by Principal Theresa Grey to calmly leave the building.
After the building was evacuated, the students, their parents and guests proceeded to the football field where the graduation ceremony was held without incident.
"I am very proud of the way our students and their families conducted themselves during the evacuation," Wasser said. "Their calm response and cooperation was instrumental in maintaining a positive tone throughout the evening. I thank them all for their commitment to a joyous graduation ceremony."
During the graduation, Grey addressed the students and urged them to, "Act as if everything you do makes a difference; because it does."
Grey said, "Their behavior and response during a difficult situation really did make a difference. It allowed the graduation ceremony to continue with dignity."
While the graduation ceremony continued on the football field, two Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department bomb sniffing K-9 officers were brought to the school and checked out the building for 45 minutes.
Manalapan K-9 officer Max and Patrolman Bill Martin assisted in the search.
At 7:15 p.m. it was determined that no device was found.
No arrests were made at the scene and no injuries were reported as a result of the bomb threat and disturbance, the police report stated.
Brown said there were two injuries, but they were not related to the bomb scare.
"Two individuals fell down and were cared for by the first aid squad," said the deputy chief.
All available Manalapan police officers were called to assist at the scene. Also assisting at the scene was the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad, Manalapan Fire District No. 1, the Gordons Corner Fire Company and the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad.
The bomb threat is being investigated by the police department’s detective bureau, Brown said, adding that there will also be an investigation into the possibility that tickets to the graduation ceremony may have been counterfeited.
Lt. Chris Marsala and Detective Robert Rushnak are still investigating the incident.
Anyone with information as to the identity of the person who made the bomb threat telephone call is asked to contact police at (732) 446-8386.
All calls to police will be kept confidential.