TOMS RIVER – A man who’s been previously indicted for Terroristic Threats left a suspicious device in the middle of Hooper Avenue between the Ocean County Courthouse and the Ocean County Administration Building, police said.
On Saturday night, officers said they found 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.
In case the device might be explosive, police shut down traffic between Hooper Avenue, Madison Avenue and Washington Street.
A joint investigation revealed that 36-year-old David Giordano of Toms River was responsible for putting the suspicious item in the road. A warrant went out charging him with False Public Alarm.
On Monday, police were notified that Giordano was involved in a car accident on the Garden State Parkway and was taken to a medical facility in Belleville for treatment.
Prior to his release from the hospital, Giordano was taken into custody by Toms River Police. He was searched and was found to have various drugs on him.
As a result, Giordano was additionally charged with Possession of Alprazolam, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Toms River Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Field Services Unit/Warrants, New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit, and Berkeley Township Hazardous Materials Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Giordano’s apprehension.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
