Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

BOMB THREAT CASE HINGES ON PSYCH EVAL

bofaA view west along West River Road in Rumson late Tuesday afternoon as police responded to a bomb threat at the bank. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

The suspect in Tuesday’s alleged bomb threat at the Rumson Bank of America is undergoing an involuntary three-day psychological evaluation, the results of which will determine the next step in the legal proceedings, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.

James Dougherty, 63, of Highlands, is charged with making terroristic threats and causing a false public alarm after threatening to blow the bank up, Administrative Assistant Prosecutor Michael Cunningham said. If convicted, Dougherty faces up to five years in state prison, Cunningham said.

Following his arrest, Dougherty was taken to the Veterans Administration Hospital in East Orange for evaluation. Authorities aren’t certain if Dougherty is a veteran, Cunningham said.

“Once complete, the results will dictate what happens next,” Cunningham said. “It’s possible he’ll be sent to MCCI (Monmouth County Correctional Institution) or somewhere else, I don’t know. I don’t know what they’re going to determine.”

According to Cunningham, Dougherty, who was carrying a leather briefcase, entered the bank with intentions that investigators are still unclear about. As he walked out, he’s alleged to have said, “I’m going to blow up the fucking bank,” and left the briefcase behind.

The bank called Rumson police at 4:20p, who “responded very quickly” and arrested Dougherty outside the bank on West River Road. An unidentified man who was with Dougherty was found in a car in the bank parking lot, but cleared of any charges because it was determined he had no knowledge of Dougherty’s actions, Cunnningham said.

The briefcase that Dougherty left behind wasn’t found to contain a bomb or weapons, although Cunningham is unsure of all of its contents.

“I would have been told if there was anything of significance” in the briefcase, Cunningham said.

There was no evidence that backed up an initial report that Dougherty attempted to rob the bank, he said.

Under the conditions of Dougherty’s $50,000 bail, he is not allowed to return to the bank, Cunningham said.

Once released from the VA hospital, a court date will be set for Dougherty’s first court appearance, he said.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
redbankgreen Classics
Partyline
RAINBOW OVER RED BANK
Saturday, before and after the storm that rolled through town. (photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)    
Mini Ballers Bring the Heat at Fusion Basketball School
As the temperatures heat up, so does the competition in the mini baller clinic at Fusion School of Basketball. These little tykes are intens ...
DOZENS OF PLEIN AIR ARTISTS “PAINT RED BANK”
Plein air artists take over town for first ever "Paint Red Bank" event. (click to read)
RED BANK: SIGN ON ICONIC DANNY’S STEAK HOUSE COMES DOWN
The sign hanging from the shuttered Danny's Steak House comes down ten months after a manager reported Danny's Steakhouse would be back "bet ...
FOR YANKEES FANS, GOOD TRASH PICKIN’
A collection of framed photographs of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and other New York Yankees greats was placed curbside along with a ...
RED BANK: NEW HANDICAPPED PARKING, WEST SIDE MEETING PLANNED
New handicapped parking sign West Side advocate had pressed for is installed, with meeting planned to discuss other concerns. (click to read ...
SUNSET AT SUMMER’S START
Crazy sunset clouds shot from Monmouth Boat Club on the Friday evening at the start of Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. ...
SIDEWALK GOES FROM WORST TO FIRST
P (photo by Brian Donohue) What had been, in our estimation – and apparently in the eyes of the several people who have emailed and te ...
RED BANK: PEERING FROM ON HIGH, ACROSS THE DECADES
Roofers on the Azalea Red Bank top off the project in the shadow of a sculpture depicting another generation of construction workers who toi ...
BRICK FACELIFT CONTINUES ON MONMOUTH STREET
A million-dollar brick sidwalk makeover of Monmouth Street in Red Bank continues.
JAY AND SILENT EAGLE
A very loud blue jay squawks at an indiferent bald eagle in a treetop alongside the Swimming River in Red Bank this week. (Partyline photo b ...
PIZZA LOVING SQUIRREL SPOTTED IN RED BANK
Pizza squirrel spotted in Red Bank. (click to read)
GET YOUR MA SOMETHIN’ NICE AT THE RED BANK FARMERS MARKET
It’s a beautiful and sunny Mother’s Day for the first instance of the farmer’s market, held every Sunday, beginning in May ...
SIGN? WHAT SIGN?
Folks in Red Bank Wednesday exercising their riparian rights to access tidal waters first encoded into Roman law in 500 AD and later adopted ...
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Partyline contributor captures photo of backyard fox.
STRIPER RUN AT MARINE PARK
An angler pulls in a striped bass from the Marine Park bulkhead Tuesday evening. (photo by Partyline contributor Boris Kofman)  
COLD AS CANADA? CHECK.
A pair of goose sculptures propped atop an air conditioning unit on River Street in Red Bank.
SUNRISE OVER A GLASSY NAVESINK
Sunrise over the Navesink River, seen from NJ Transit Train 3320. (photo by Partyline contributor Karly Swaim)  
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
NJ Transit "heritage" locomotive makes an appearance at the Red Bank station.
RBFD SNUFFS OUT SMALL APARTMENT FIRE
A small fire that started in a light fixture at the Colony House apartments in Red Bank was quickly put out by members of the Red Band Volun ...