NEWS

Suspicious boombox prompts Florham Park shopping center evacuation

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

FLORHAM PARK – A boombox left with a threatening note in the Walgreens parking lot prompted police to evacaute the shopping center and close a portion of Columbia Turnpike for about two hours Monday morning, Florham Park Police said.

Police responded to a call of a suspicious item in the Walgreens parking lot at the corner of Columbia Turnpike and Ridgedale Avenue at about 9: 57 a.m.

Police arrived to find a boombox-style radio with an “alarming note” attached to it, Capt. Robert Treiber said. The radio was not on.

Details of the note were not disclosed, but it prompted police to call the Morris County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad and evacuate the shopping center near the Walgreens, which includes Nonna’s restaurant and Trader Joe’s, Treiber said.

Columbia Turnpike was also temporarily shut down for about a tenth of a mile between Ridgedale Avenue and James Street as police investigated the device, police said.

Once the device was deemed safe, the shopping center and Columbia Turnpike was reopened at about 12:30 p.m., police said.

Florham Park Police are actively looking to identify the person who left the boombox and note in the parking lot and anyone with information is asked to call police at 973-377-2200 or Morris County Crime Stoppers at 973-COP-CALL.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com