FREEHOLD – A 36-year-old male is responsible for pulling a wall alarm within the Monmouth County Superior Courthouse earlier this morning, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Michael Marsh, 36, of Brick, was charged with one count of second degree False Public Alarm, for pulling an alarm within the courthouse a little after 9:30 this morning. A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office resulted in identifying and apprehending Marsh.
Marsh is being housed at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, awaiting his first appearance.
“Law enforcement everywhere treats every one of these incidents as a potentially serious threat to the safety and well-being of our citizens. These false threats are not a game or joke, but a crime that will be aggressively pursued by this Office,” said Gramiccioni.
A 2016 amendment to a bill, spearheaded by Gramiccioni with the assistance of former State Senator Jennifer Beck and other state legislators, increased the crime of False Public Alarm to a second degree offense if the false report involved a building necessary for public safety such as the Monmouth County Courthouse.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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