A report of a bomb threat at the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne New Jersey prompted an evacuation as law enforcement looked for explosive devices.

According to Wayne NJ police, a man in the Willowbrook Mall found a security guard and said that he had seen a note threatening a bomb explosion at the mall. The man told the mall security guard that the note was handwritten and indicated the presence of multiple bombs inside the mall.

The Wayne Police Department dispatched officers to the area so that they could speak with the man and investigate the threatening situation. The man then began to lead police officers to the alleged location of the note when he suddenly collapsed due to a possible medical condition.

Authorities then evacuated the mall while members of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad searched the building for explosive devices. The bomb squad never found explosive devices, or the threatening note, during their search.

If the person responsible for the threat is ultimately charged with making terroristic threats, they would be subject to severe penalties. That’s because N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3 stipulates that a person who threatens to commit a crime of violence against anyone with the purpose to terrorize or to cause evacuation of a building can be charged with a third degree criminal offense. A conviction for third degree terroristic threats could result in a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.

For additional information, read the NJ.com article, “Bomb Threat Report Clears Willowbrook Mall in Wayne.”