College fire safety officer arrested in incident that prompted cancellation of Keansburg parade
The Brick man told police he was a fire safety officer at Brookdale Community College.
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An Ocean County man has been charged with creating a false public alarm that led officials to cancel the Keansburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade last month.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said Christopher J. Otis, 56, of Brick, called police on March 28 to report finding a suspicious device just hours before the parade was scheduled to begin. Otis told police he discovered the device near the beach, along a walking path.
“Otis also revealed he was employed by Brookdale Community College as the Fire Safety and Environmental Compliance Officer,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
When Keansburg police arrived in the area of Beachway and Bayview avenues around 10:45 a.m., they found the device near the parade staging area, according to the prosecutor’s office. Police secured the area and, in coordination with multiple agencies, launched a search.
“In a coordinated effort, several K-9 units conducted a thorough search of the entire area and parade route, which yielded no further discoveries,” the office said.
Multiple local, county, and state law enforcement agencies responded, including the FBI. Authorities said that “out of an abundance of caution,” the parade was canceled.
Otis was charged with creating a false public alarm, providing false information to police, and possession of a destructive device. He is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending court proceedings.
In a statement to News 12, Brookdale Community College said Otis has been placed on leave.
"Brookdale Community College is aware of the charges filed against an employee referenced in recent reports. We take matters of safety and public trust very seriously and are cooperating with law enforcement as appropriate. As this is an active investigation, we will not comment on specific details," the school said. "The employee was placed on administrative leave without pay immediately upon notification, and the College has initiated the process of termination.
The parade, which would have marked its 20th year, was expected to draw crowds from across the region. Instead, concern replaced celebration as authorities responded to what officials described as a homemade device deemed a credible threat.
