LINDEN — On Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. an off-duty Newark police officer was sitting in his parked vehicle on the 1000 block of Orchard Terrace on the side of the Linden High School Academy of Science and Technology building when he told police that he was approached by a dark-skinned male, age 30’s, on the passenger side of his vehicle.
The man put his hand in his pocket and motioned to his waistband while asking the officer, “where’s the money at.” The officer then pulled out his handgun and the man quickly walked away and into the Academy annex of the high school.
A school official confronted him and the suspect inquired as to the location of the principal’s office. He was directed to the main building across the street and his image was captured by school surveillance cameras.
Responding officers, initially believing that he may have entered the main school, put it on temporary lockdown while a search of the building was conducted. Even though the school had dismissed for the day, there were still teachers, students, and staff inside the building.
The search did not locate a suspect. Anyone who may have witnessed the suspect that afternoon or has any information is asked to contact Linden Det. Kevin Mikolajczyk at 908-474-8530 or email [email protected].