Freehold girl faces charges of making terror threats

FREEHOLD- On June 13, a 12-yearold female student at the Freehold Intermediate School, Park Avenue, was charged with third degree terroristic threats in connection with an incident which caused a schoolwide lockdown on June 5. The juvenile was also charged with harassment and disorderly conduct, both of which are petty disorderly persons offenses, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

On June 5, multiple students independently advised the Freehold Intermediate School principal that they overheard students talking about the possibility of the juvenile causing a violent incident at the school the following day. One student reported that the juvenile specifically warned her not to come to school the following day because she was going to engage in an act of violence, according to the press release.

Based on this information, the principal contacted the Freehold Borough Police Department. Officers from that department then responded to the school and met with the principal and other administrators. At that point, a plan was formulated to lock down the school. The lockdown lasted approximately 22 minutes. A search was conducted during the lockdown and failed to reveal any weapons or other dangerous devices, according to the press release.

At 2:35 p.m., all students and faculty were ordered to leave the building. About 10 minutes later, officers with specially trained K-9 partners arrived at the school and performed a search of the building. No bombs or explosives were detected, and the school was cleared. To ensure security of the student body, increased uniformed and plainclothes officers were present at the school on June 6.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin commended Principal Nelson Ribon, faculty and students who acted quickly and aided in the investigation and cooperated with safety procedures.

Valentin said, "Even though the school year is drawing to a close, law enforcement will maintain its vigilance in investigating and prosecuting criminal activity which disrupts the educational process."

The maximum custodial sentence the juvenile faces if she is adjudicated delinquent of the third-degree terroristic threat charge is two years in the custody of the Juvenile Justice Commission, according to the press release.