EAST BRUNSWICK — A 14-year-old student at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School, Rues Lane, has been arrested in connection with a bomb threat that resulted in the school’s evacuation on Feb. 7.

The male student reportedly told police that he made the bomb threat as a joke, not realizing the consequences of the action.

Another student at the school discovered the written bomb threat in the school bathroom and reported it to school officials at 9:45 a.m. At the time, East Brunswick Detective Sgt. Joseph Alves was working a security detail at the school and was notified by a school administrator. Numerous police units responded to the school, as well as East Brunswick Fire District 1, Trans Med Ambulance Service, the East Brunswick Rescue Squad and township emergency management.

School officials decided to evacuate the building, and all students and faculty were escorted by police units and Brunswick Square Mall security to Mega Movies at the adjacent mall. John DeNicola, director of operations at Mega Movies, opened five theaters to accommodate all the students and staff.

New Jersey State Police K-9 bomb units were notified and arrived on scene. The K-9 units conducted an extensive search of the inside and outside of the school. The search proved to be negative, and with the building rendered safe, the students and faculty were allowed to return at approximately 1 p.m., police said.

Three students were treated by Trans Med Ambulance Service and the Robert Wood Johnson University paramedics for what police described as non-life threatening conditions. Two were transported to Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, and one was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick for precautionary measures.
 

The following day, Alves was continuing the investigation when he was advised by school officials about the student that they believed to be responsible for the false bomb threat, police said. Alves interviewed the student and a family member, leading to the charge of creating a false public alarm. The 14-year-old was released into the custody of a family member.