The following is on file with the Burlington Township Police Department:
At approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, the Young School main office received a telephoned bomb threat. This threat prompted the evacuation of the school until specially-trained canine teams swept the building and declared it was safe for the school to return to normal operations.
The Burlington Township Police Department immediately launched a criminal investigation through which it was able to identify Sharif A. Brooks, a 28-year-old male from Burlington, as the person responsible for that threat. The investigation also determined the bomb threat was an attempt by Brooks to divert police resources away from an unrelated narcotics investigation occurring at the time in the 500 block of Neck Road. Despite his efforts to evade the police, Brooks was ultimately arrested and charged late at night on Oct. 10 with one count of false public alarm and one count of terroristic threats. He was lodged in the Burlington County Jail pending his initial appearance in court.
The previously mentioned narcotics investigation is ongoing at this moment, and no charges have been issued yet in relation to that investigation.
The BTPD would like to emphasize once again that there is no indication there is a credible threat to the safety of any students or schools as a result of the Oct. 10 incident. Additionally, the department would like to thank once again all the parents and community members for their cooperation and all the school personnel for their assistance during yesterday’s incident.
