On February 8^th, 2022 at approximately 1740 hours, Principal Mark Cantagallo of Cranford High School was notified by an alert staff member about an alarming Twitter post involving a bomb threat at Cranford High School.  The Cranford Police Department was immediately contacted and responding officers began an investigation to source the alarming post - working with school officials to conduct a threat assessment of the high school.  Although this event occurred after school hours, Cranford Public Schools officials evacuated remaining occupants from the school while the Union County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit and the Cranford Police Department conducted a security sweep of the property.  As a result of this security sweep, it was determined that the threat was not credible.

Detective Michael Dubitsky worked with internet service providers to pinpoint the origination of the alarming social media post.  Within an hour, detectives located and confronted the juvenile suspect at his Cranford home – confiscating multiple electronic devices.  Working with the Union County High Tech Task Force, Detective Dubitsky conducted a forensic inspection of devices in furtherance of this investigation. 

On March 31^st, 2022, an arrest warrant was issued for the juvenile defendant for 2^nd Degree Creating a False Public Alarm and 3^rd Degree Terroristic Threats.  At approximately 1341 hours, the Cranford Police Investigative Division took the juvenile defendant into custody without incident.  The juvenile defendant was processed and immediately brought to the Union County Superior Court for a first appearance before Judge James P. Wilson. 

Chief Ryan J. Greco commended the actions of the witnesses, the Cranford Public Schools, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and specifically Detective Michael Dubitsky.  “This unfortunate event came to a successful, peaceful resolution because an individual saw something suspicious and then acted upon that observation.  Detective Dubitsky’s High Tech Task Force experience aided in the quick determination that this was a false public alarm, easing the concerns of many of our parents,” Chief Greco said.