The Morris County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad recently dispatched officers to an apartment building in Wharton NJ after black powder was discovered near the body of a deceased man. The possible bomb threat caused quite a scare in the community.
The victim was a worker at Picatinny Arsenal, an American military research and manufacturing facility located in Morris County, New Jersey. The suspect reportedly committed suicide at the Brentwood Gardens apartment complex in Wharton, NJ.
Wharton NJ police officers were asked to conduct a welfare check on the man after receiving a call from family members who were concerned about him. When the Wharton cops arrived at the residence, they found the victim’s body. Additionally, police reportedly came across black powder and a pipe. This led to an evacuation of the building.
Members of the Morris County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad subsequently came to the scene and made sure that the apartment complex was safe for residents. The bomb squad remained at the scene for more than 13 hours. According to Morris County prosecutor’s, there was no actual threat and no bomb components in the apartment.
Wharton NJ detectives also investigated the situation and ruled out homicide as a cause of death. That’s because police reportedly determined that the man likely died as a result of suicide. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim.
For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Bomb Squad Called to Wharton After Powder Found Near Body, Report Says.”