By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Yesterday, Monday February 17, 2014, at 10:09 a.m., there was a bomb scare in Ocean Grove’s North End . A worker noticed an object at the corner of Beach and Seaview Avenues. To anyone who saw the object, it “appeared to be a bomb” according to Det. Lt. Michael McGhee of the Neptune Township Police Department. Lt. McGhee said that the police thought it might be a “pipe bomb.”
The NJ State Police Bomb Squad was called, and NTPD began knocking on doors and advising citizens to leave the area. They brought in an ambulance and a special bus to evacuate all the neighbors who didn’t drive out on their own. About 50 people were “displaced,” including about 25 by bus. The bus didn’t leave town, but it went to a safe location.
It was a holiday, but within 45 minutes, the bomb squad had mobilized its personnel and equipment to the site. After inspecting the situation, they sent out their robot. X-rays were done along with other tests. Eventually, they determined that it was not a bomb. The entire process lasted two hours. The case is still under investigation .
Lt. McGhee said that the reporting of the suspicious object followed the mantra of, “If you see something, say something.”
And don’t miss the 24 comments and the debate which ensued.
This is what a bomb squad robot looks like. This one is from the Jersey City P.D. Internet photo
It is wonderful that in our country we can all express our very differing points of view. While I understand that we don’t want to sacrifice individual liberty or live in a police state, I don’t think what happened in Ocean Grove is at all an example of that. I am very fortunate to live in Ocean Grove part-time. It is a magical place where all cares seem to be left outside the “pearly gates”. And that is generally true. But I also live and work in downtown Manhattan and was there on Sept. 11, 2001. One if my friends was killed that day in the WTC. Two of my neighbors escaped the burning towers. My 75 year old father who worked 3 blocks from there walked home over the Manhattan Bridge. He died of lung cancer 5 years later. Any connection? We lived with the sights and awful smells, not to mention terror and heartbreak, for months. I appreciate the efforts of everyone who does anything to try to prevent another tragedy. And there have been more. Does anyone remember the smoking car bomb on West 46 St? While I hate waiting on security lines at airports, I remember the awfulness of that day in September.
Gail: We will not carry this subject any further. Thank you for sharing your story which illustrates that even in a small town, the citizens must be vigilant as to the risk of violence.
I agree with Plump Mike and also thank you for your post. Your father may be gone but he certainly is not forgotten.
To “Plump Mike”…
Thank you for your kindness…
FYI, what the paper didn’t say was “why” he suffered the heart attack. The suspect (Bernard Bailey) beat him repeatedly in the chest during a scuffle that occurred when the suspect broke away from my Dad and fight ensued. Dad drew his gun, could not fire because of people there, started to run after him and collapsed on the street. I have all the eye witness reports.
There is much more to this story Mike. However I don’t want to make the memory of my Father a topic for debate on a blog…….Hope you understand..
This memorial to Chief of Police (Ocean Grove PD) David John Lake is posted on the Internet:
“Chief David Lake suffered a fatal heart attack on August 23, 1971, while in a foot pursuit of an escaped prisoner.
“The suspect was later apprehended and sentenced to 4 months in jail.
“Chief Lake had served with the Ocean Grove Police Department for 16 years and had previously served with the United States Marine Corps in World War II. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.”
Gail, Your story is very touching and by far the strongest example of why people should never become complacent; even when living in a small town like Ocean Grove.
I’m sorry for the loss you and your family suffered and thank your father for his brave service to our community.
Maybe one day you will be willing to share your fathers story?
We live in a world where we need to be vigilant——not hysterical, but involved and aware.
The police acted appropriately. If there was any question as to “bomb” or just a “pipe” I would want to err on the side of caution… The police put themselves in harms way everyday. It is their job to “serve and protect,” and for my two cents, they do a great job.
One other comment………..NEVER say “but seriously, in Ocean Grove”….Almost 43 years ago a Police Chief was beaten to his death while on duty here in Ocean Grove. There are a lot of things that happen in Ocean Grove just like any other town or city in this country or world…
I speak from knowledge——–I am his daughter.q
Hey ABBOTTTT!!
It’s called preventive measures to preserve life. Comparing motor vehicle accidents to bombings??? That’s why they’re called accidents. Most are due to speeding and or driver inattention. Through enforcement and education the numbers have dropped significantly.
Its amazing how quickly some people forget what happened on 9/11. There is no comparison. It’s the first time aside from Pearl Harbor that we as Americans were attacked on our own soil. They targeted civilians using other civilians in jets. Irrational? Bombings are not accidents. They are deliberate acts of violence! It’s an attack on Americans and on our way of life. I’m sure you never set foot on Ground Zero.
Freedom is not a given in this country. We have maintained it unfortunately thru the loss of life. The lives of our military, police, fire and all first responders.
Infectious disease, ice, and lightning? You forgot tooth decay. Bombings are carried out by terrorists against men, women and children. Each time something or someone is detected or thwarted it decreases the odds. I suppose we should leave the front doors to the schools open too. What are the odds??
Sometimes it’s the actions of others that create these changes and the inaction of a few that will allow history to repeat itself. Irrational and hysteria are words that could only be spoken by someone who never set foot on Ground Zero.
Wake up its 2014.
Uggggg; it’s frightening and sad how so many of you are able to trivialize the danger of international and domestic terrorism. The concept of a large scale attack or a “soft” attack on citizens of this country is very real. Can you really compare falling off a bike or slipping on ice to an attack which can potentially kill or injure multiple people.
The following was stated by Devo, “Should we sacrifice our freedom and liberty because, once every several years, a bomb might go off somewhere. Maybe that is just the price of freedom. It’s a price at least I am willing to pay since I do not want the US to become Russia.”
How can you say that so casually? That’s a slap in the face to all families world wide who have suffered from attacks caused by hate. And what price have you paid may I ask– perhaps it took you an extra 30 minutes to catch your flight to Paris. This isn’t “fear mongering,” my friend ; it’s life and it’s the world we live in.
Please elaborate on how police departments across the country have become militant? Would you take guns away from law enforcement? When that dark day comes for you and or your family (which I certainly don’t wish on you or anyone); will you tell the officer who arrives at your house to rescue you– please leave your gun in the car?
Do you believe your privacy has been invaded? No one at NSA or any government agency cares about what your doing or saying. Live your life and be happy that there are dedicated people willing to risk theirs so you and your family can have a quality of life.
Oh and Frank– I’m aware of the word “sheeple,” I just happen to think it’s stupid.
Well maybe they were trying to blow up the Park View and missed LOL what a shame….
It is to me, like a little girl who falls down a well in, say, Nebraska, All eyes are on that rescue because that little girl has a face and we find it easy to focus and pray for her survival as opposed to, for example, millions killed by the Nazis.
It seem impossible to grasp huge numbers. Maybe that’s why some of these commenters here feel no concern about terrorist risks for so many Americans.
But not to try and prevent a bombing? Even one life is sacred.
Bob, Abbott, Frank and Devo: Why don’t you stop beating around the bush with your progressive nonsense? Why don’t you just say that the suspicious package spotted in the Grove should have not been addressed and that we should, as a nation, dial back our security measures?
As Plump Mike points out, there have been many real bombs and other terrorist acts averted by our preventive and investigative measures. Those reports never make it into the media for security reasons.
There’s a family in Monmouth County whose child was murdered in a bus bombing in Jerusalem. How would you feel about this subject if that had been your child or if such an event were to occur here?
If we back off on our anti-terrorism efforts, there will be even more attempts in the US, and more will succeed, and people like you four, would have to live with that.
A commenter above states that if citizens were not as vigilant as they are, “the country would be even more dangerous then it already is.” Is the US dangerous? I wonder if it’s this kind of fear mongering that allows the NSA to run amok, enables police departments across the country to militarize, that places more than a million people on the no fly list, and, more generally, to significantly erode our freedoms, privacy and liberty.
Should we sacrifice our freedom and liberty because, once every several years, a bomb might go off somewhere. Maybe that is just the price of freedom. It’s a price at least I am willing to pay since I do not want the US to become Russia.
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” – FDR . In a way I think this is what Abbott is saying.
If we as a people are so afraid and suspicious of one another and we are living in constant fear and in a state of alarm then unfortunately maybe the “enemy” has won.
P.S. – “sheeple” is a well known word/expression
In the post-9/11 US, once a possible bomb is reported, the wheels are going to be set in motion nothing much will stop them.
Nevertheless, when it comes to risk assessment, I have to agree with Abbott. Particularly about slipping on the ice in Ocean Grove.
The chances of dying as the result of an an act of terrorism anywhere in the US, never mind in Ocean Grove are very very small.
Significantly higher risks in OG and at the rest of the Jersey shore are bicyclists without helmets (according to NHTSA between 2001 and 2011, there were 7658 fatal bicycle accidents in the US) and the ocean itself (according to the CDC, between 1999 and 2010, there were 49,762 deaths from drowning in the US.
In my opinion, the terrorists have won. It’s good if people were only inconvenienced for a couple of hours by the bomb report.
Curious: The only description offered by the police was that it looked like a bomb—specifically a pipe bomb. It is still being investigated
Whew! What a frightening experience for those who had to leave their residences.
Does anyone have a description of the object mistaken as a bomb? Abbott references a pipe in the street , but it’s unclear whether this is a description of the actual object or just part of Abbott’s critique.
Reading this report reminded me of something posted in Blogfinger a few years ago, which was about a suspicious bottle of liquid left on someone’s property on the north side of OG. Tried to look this up in the BG archives, but couldn’t find it.
Dear Abbott,
You are putting your head in the sand. If every American thought like you, and walked away from a suspicious situation, the country would be even more dangerous then it already is.
Were do you get your facts from? Terrorism is very real and now, more then ever, needs to be taken seriously by all Americans. Vigilance saves lives and ignorance gets people hurt.
How do you know how many people are endangered by threats? Do you have any idea how many potential attacks are stopped by law enforcement every month? You must be one of these people that believe that police should make the public aware of every move they make– not every police action is a headline. We live in a post 9/11 era- and have more enemies today (international and domestic). The threat is real. Should we live in fear? NO! But we should all be aware of our surroundings and continue to notify the authorities if we see or hear something strange.
Oh and did you really use the word “sheeple?”
On a side note– good for the police for conducting a rigorous investigation and well done to the citizen who wasn’t afraid to make the call.
Nice reporting by FINGER.
45 minutes?
Abbott, sure hope you are never in a situation where someone does not speak up and boom—– Abbott no more.
Boys with their toys.
Always better to be safe then sorry. I agree with Sayso, good job police dept.
Good job by the police dept.
While actual bombs are seriously horrible, I wonder if the hysteria about them is warranted. Yes there were two bombs at the Boston Marathon. Yes, every year or two, somewhere in America, a bomb goes off. But seriously, in Ocean Grove? If I saw a pipe in the street, a bomb would not be my first thought.
Fear about bombs, just like fear about terrorism, has risen to incredibly irrational proportions. Life is not risk free, but very, very, very, very few folks are ever endangered by such threats.
I suggest folks worry about real threats that actually have better odds of happening to them than winning Powerball. How about the fact that >1,500 people are killed in traffic fatalities every WEEK (that means in three weeks far more folks are killed by cars than in the 9/11 attacks). Or how about infectious disease. Or maybe even slipping on the ice. Even being hit by lightening is a much greater risk than bombs and terrorism.
Are we people, or are we sheeple?