Monmouth County Man Arrested For Allegedly Phoning Bomb Threats In To Several Nearby Stores

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ (CBS) – A man believed to be responsible for a string of bomb threats made to stores within a shopping center was arrested on Monday.

Kristopher L. Thomas, a 21-year-old of the Stony Hill Apartments in Eatontown, was charged with four counts of False Public Alarm in connection with bomb threats made on Sunday and Monday to three stores located in The Consumer Center shopping area on Route 36.

On Feb. 17th and 18th, three threats were made by phone to the Buy Buy Baby store. Other threats were made to a Chuck E. Cheese and a Taco Bell in the complex.

Following all of the threats, the building was cleared and searched before the store was reopened to the public.

Officials say an investigation lead to the arrest of Thomas, who is a former employee of the Buy Buy Baby and the Taco Bell and was employed by the Chuck E. Cheese at the time the threats were made.

Thomas remains in the Monmouth Correctional Institution, where he is being held on $100,000 full cash bell. If convicted, he faces from three to five years in prison for each count.