SBHS boys charged
in anthrax prank
Two minors arrested, suspended for tainted mail hoax
By charles W. kim
Staff Writer

Two South Brunswick High School students have been charged by police and suspended from school for placing a letter with a powdery substance in a school office.

"We have zero tolerance for such pranks, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law," South Brunswick Police Chief Michael Paquette said Tuesday night.

Police responded to the school on Ridge Road at 2:15 p.m. Monday to check out a suspicious letter in the third-floor office of ninth- and tenth-grade Vice Principal Len Santamaria.

School officials had isolated the letter, which police believe contained crushed mints, prior to the arrival of the officers.

Police then followed established protocol and packaged the letter to send to the Department of Health for testing.

According to police, the letter had the word "open" written on the outside of the envelope, and "anthrax" written on the inside next to the white powder.

An investigation into the incident by Detective John Klemas and Patrolman Gene Rickle led to the arrest of a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old male.

Police said that the students had allegedly planned the hoax for several hours in an attempt to close the school.

Police also believe that the pair crushed white mints to create the powdery substance inside the envelope.

The students were charged at police headquarters at about 10 p.m. Monday with creating a false public alarm and were remanded to the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center, following a Tuesday hearing.

The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 8, according to Paquette.

As juveniles, it is not clear just what the students may face if found guilty.

According to police, adults charged with this third-degree crime could face five years in prison.

"There is the rehabilitation aspect of juvenile proceedings," Public Information Officer Jim Ryan said.

Ryan said that the parents of the students did cooperate in the investigation.

South Brunswick Mayor Debra Johnson said Tuesday night she felt the students were not aware of the full consequences of their actions.

"They did not understand what they were doing," Johnson said, but added, "They should be justly punished."

School officials said Tuesday that the students have been suspended from school and will also face a hearing there as soon as possible.

Schools Superintendent Sam Stewart said in a press release that the school staff followed established guidelines and protocol in dealing with the letter, and urged everyone to work together to maintain a safe school.

"These are times of significant anxiety in which parents, students and teachers must work together to stay focused on the main mission of the school; that is, to maintain a safe and caring environment in which all of our students can learn," Stewart said.

The letter was found at the end of the day Monday, and the school remained open, according to school officials.

School reopened on Tuesday as normal.

South Brunswick police have responded to more than 30 reports of suspicious mail and packages throughout the township.

All of those tests have come back negative for anthrax.

Paquette said that he believed this was the first arrest in the state regarding this kind of hoax.

Johnson urged parents to talk with their children about just what happens when they pull this kind of prank.

"We take these threats very seriously. An example has to be put out front so others understand our reaction to their silly prank," Paquette said.