Road closed, section of apartment complex evacuated after the package was discovered.
A man faces charges after he allegedly left a box with “what if this was a bomb” written on the package at the apartment complex where he lives, leading authorities to evacuate area residences Thursday.
Police were alerted after the cardboard package was discovered just outside the mailroom at Hopewell Gardens on Denow Road shortly before 5 p.m., according to Hopewell Township police Chief Lance Maloney.
The “what if” message was written on the box, Maloney added. Emergency responders evacuated the east wing of the apartment complex and closed a nearby road as a precaution.
Troopers from the State Police bomb squad discovered the package was harmless about two hours later, and a Mercer County sheriff K-9 team swept the area, the chief said.
Police quickly focused on a “person of interest” at the scene and arrested 56-year-old Masanoly Aiken on charges of false public alarm, terroristic threats and causing or risking widespread injury or damage, according to a statement from Hopewell police.
A Facebook profile matching Aiken’s name includes a series of incoherent posts mentioning Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, the White House, law enforcement and a bomb.
“I’m wondering why Washington dc -the white house hasn’t got back with me. I’m guessing there looking for a bomb,” one post stated.
“Me well I’m thinking about robbing 1st national bank and take all the tellers and bank manager shopping,” another posting said.
The false alarm in Hopewell came a day after the serial bomber who killed two people in Texas, blew himself up as a SWAT team tried to arrest him near Austin.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.