A 16-year-old student at Cedar Creek High School was taken into custody on Tuesday, Dec. 18 after Galloway Police and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office discovered several ingredients that when mixed together could cause an explosion, police said Tuesday night.
Police visited the student's East Spencer Lane residence after being called to the high school this afternoon, police said. School officials told police that the student was acting in a way that caused concern, but there was no indication that any threats were made or that there was any danger to anyone at Cedar Creek, police said.
Investigators from the Galloway Police Department were joined by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at the student's home on the 300 block of East Spencer Lane, police said. They found several items, including electronic parts and chemicals that could cause an explosion when mixed together, police said.
The student was charged with possession of a weapon, which was an explosive device. The student was placed in Harbor Fields Juvenile Detention Facility in Egg Harbor City, police said.
Police and school officials requested a sweep of the school with the use of bomb sniffing dogs, but nothing was located, police said.
The Atlantic City Police Department's Bomb Squad, Oceanville Fire Department, Galloway EMS, Egg Harbor City Police and K9s from the Hamilton Township Police Department, Atlantic City Police Department, the Gloucester County Sheriff's Department, two units from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department, the Millville Police Department and the Salem County Sheriff's Department assisted in the sweep of the school.
Cedar Creek, located in Egg Harbor City, is one of three schools that constitutes the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District. Galloway Township is one of the sending districts for that school.
While we need to be careful. We must take the time to think before jumping to conclusions . Right now from what I have read ,he is in jail but he did not hurt anyone or even try to damage anything or threaten anyone or put them in any danger. I just hope we are not jailing people on crimes that they may commit .
And if there is more, shame on the authorities for not immediately releasing enough details to justify their heavy-handed Gestapo actions in violation of the 1st and 4th amendments. We do not live in a secret society contrary to some law enforcement officials.
I can't imagine what people under the current circumstances would have thought of me. Where are the future scientists and engineers going to come from with the attitudes prevalent today? If this kid was doing nothing wrong but having a curious mind I hope the police and teacher involved get hit with a giant civil rights lawsuit.
I would like to see a detailed report to include What are the drawings that the teacher found so alarming Who the teacher contacted What the parents said when contacted Was a search warrant was issued (and on what grounds) by who Did the parents consent to the search ? What materials were found ? I do think when a report of this nature is made a statement from the accused be included in the report not just a police statement of inditement I don't think the child or. The teacher and school admins should be hung just yet
What were the chemicals? How much, ounces or 55 gallon drums? Was there material that could be used as shrapnel? How about a detonation system? I don't think Al-Qaeda ever got a binary chemical bomb to work but somehow a high school student managed to figure it out? Sounds like everyone involved is suffering from post-traumatic stupidity syndrome.