"I find it odd that they're going to close the case"
From the Burlington County Times 7/2/12 On-line Edition
"Authorities close investigation of 2010 bomb scare in Beverly
By Jeannie O'Sullivan Staff writer | Posted: Monday, July 2, 2012 1:39 pm
BEVERLY — The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office has closed its investigation of an alleged April 2010 bomb scare at City Council President Luis Crespo’s residence, citing insufficient probable cause to file criminal charges against anyone in connection with the matter.
In a letter obtained by the Burlington County Times, an assistant county prosecutor informs the city’s Police Department sergeant that “the investigation has yielded no evidence indicating that an identifiable third party placed this (inoperable improvised incendiary) device on Mr. Crespo’s vehicle.”
“On the contrary, there is some evidence to suggest that Mr. Crespo himself may have attached this device to his own truck for reasons that remain unknown,” wrote Thaddeus E. Drummond, the Prosecutor’s Office’s supervisor of the Special Investigations Unit, in a May 1 letter to city police Sgt. James Boettger.
The letter did not elaborate on the evidence. Joel Bewley, spokesman for the Prosecutor’s Office, said he could not comment on the letter.
When reached for comment, Crespo said he did not know about the letter and expressed disbelief at the outcome.
“I find it odd that they're going to close the case,” he said.
A message left for Boettger on Monday was not immediately returned.
Authorities on April 21, 2010, had shut down a stretch of Broad Street and evacuated nearby homes after someone called at 10:30 a.m. to report an “unknown device” connected to a vehicle at the residence where Crespo lives with his wife, school board member Karen Crespo. Karen Crespo had been elected to a three-year Board of Education term the night before and said at the time that she had walked home about 10 p.m.
The incident drew the New Jersey State Police’s bomb squad; the Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit; more than a dozen officers from several towns, including K-9 units; and at least one official from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The area was declared safe about 2 p.m. that day, and police took away the vehicle as part of the investigation. At the time, Bewley declined to say if any explosives were found or if the vehicle was in danger of exploding."
Just another day in the City of Beverly, run by The King, Five Finger Louie.
Well King Louie, you dodged another bullet or should we say a bomb of your own making. Those "Snitch Connections" from the Mt. Holly Gardens must still be working for you. To bad for Kate that you are such a GOOD FRIEND with connections.
By the way does the City of Beverly have a property maintenance ordinance? If so is the Kings House on Broad Street an example for the Home Owners of Beverly to follow? Inquiring minds would like to know.
"Bomb scare in Beverly"
By: DAVID LEVINSKY AND DAVID MACCAR
April 21 2010
Burlington County Times
"BEVERLY - Authorities shut down a block of Broad Street near Railroad Avenue for about four hours Wednesday morning because of an apparent bomb scare at a city councilman's residence.
The scare occurred at the home of City Council President Luis Crespo and his wife, Karen, who is a member of the school board, according to an informed source.
A resident of the 600 block of Broad Street phoned authorities about 10:30 a.m. to report an "unknown device" connected to a vehicle, authorities said.
Responding officers blocked off the street and evacuated residents from some nearby homes, said Joel Bewley, spokesman for the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.
The New Jersey State Police's bomb squad and the Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit responded and secured the vehicle with more than a dozen officers from several towns, including K-9 units and at least one officer from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives patrolling the area.
The area was declared safe about 2 p.m. and police took away the vehicle as part of the investigation, Bewley said.
He declined to say if any explosives were found or if the vehicle was in danger of exploding. He also declined to say who owns the vehicle.
"We have the vehicle and will analyze it as part of a continuing investigation," Bewley said.
Barbara Ptaszenski, who works at the Athletic Club of Beverly on Broad Street, said authorities told her to leave the area and wait at the end of the block.
"They didn't tell me why, but I had already had a phone call from one of the girls that's on the scanner and they said that Crespo had a bomb scare (at his house)," said Ptaszenski, who added that she arrived at work at 10:45 and found the road already closed.
Luis and Karen Crespo, who were with officers near the scene, said they could not comment on the incident just after authorities disbanded about 2:15.
Crespo would only say that he didn't know if they would be allowed back into their home.
Karen Crespo was elected to a three-year term on the school board the night before and said she walked home about 10 p.m.
At the scene, Public Safety Director Kenneth Gerber said only that the incident has been referred to the Prosecutor's Office.
Mayor Gail Cook said the incident is unfortunate, no matter the circumstances.
"I haven't heard any scuttlebutt about if it's politically motivated at all," Cook said. "However it has come to be, it's unfortunate. It's unfortunate for any family who is targeted and for the neighbors and for the entire city."
"The Edgewater Park Reporters
