PARK RIDGE, N.J.—An unemployed Spring Valley, New York man is in jail, charged with false public alarm and violation of a final restraining order after calling in a bogus shooting that drew a SWAT team to a local address.
According to Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo, Austin E. Parks, 48, of 18 East Hickory St., Spring Valley called in a report of an active shooter here on Wednesday, April 17.
Coincidentally, it seems, that was shortly before an as-yet unidentified man robbed the Oritani bank, at 177 Kinderkamack Road, threatening workers with a purported bomb. He made off with tens of thousands of dollars. That investigation is ongoing.
Parks’s arrest is a result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Park Ridge Police Department under the direction of Chief Joseph Madden.
According to Calo in a press statement, on Wednesday, April 17, the BCPO Cyber Crimes Unit was notified by the Park Ridge Police Department that an unknown telephone caller—using technology to anonymize the calling line identity—placed a telephone call to the Park Ridge Police Department claiming that there was an active shooter at a private residence in Park Ridge.
First responders, including the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, determined that the call was a false report and no emergency had actually taken place. Members of the unit and PRPD launched an immediate investigation to identify the caller.
Calo said that, as a result, Parks was charged on Monday, April 22 with false public alarm and violation of a final restraining order.
Parks, who already was detained in the Rockland County Jail on an unrelated matter, was extradited to Bergen County on April 30.
As of May 1, Parks was lodged in the Bergen County Jail pending on a date to be determined.
Connection to same-day bank robbery?
The Oritani branch was robbed shortly after 12:20 p.m. on April 17. The suspect was seen in security camera footage heavily obscured by glasses, the appearance of a beard and mustache, a bike helmet, and dark cold-weather gear including gloves and a biking scarf.
It seemed plausible to close observers that the call Parks now is charged with making was connected, possibly as a distraction.
A photo of Parks released by authorities shows him bald and close-shaven.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said the bank robbery suspect might have fled the area in a white minivan. Anyone with information that can help identify the suspect should call the BCPO at (201) 226-5782.
School was threatened April 11
April was tumultuous for Park Ridge. On April 11, students and staff sheltered in place for hours at Park Ridge High School following a threat made online that administrators and police said was specific.
The lockdown did not affect East Brook and West Ridge Elementary schools, though administrators were notified and police maintained a presence there for the rest of the school day.
At about 1:15 p.m., students and teachers at the high school were told to shelter in place until school was dismissed. Dismissal was on a staggered basis starting about 2:45 under the direction of law enforcement personnel, said Dr. Robert Gamper, superintendent of Park Ridge School District.
Gamper said a specific threat—later determined to be unfounded—against the high school and staff mobilized a coordinated police response, including police from Montvale, Woodcliff Lake and two mobile Bergen County SWAT units. All afternoon school activities were cancelled.
Calo said the charges against Parks are merely accusations and that he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Calo thanked the Park Ridge Police Department, Spring Valley and Clarkstown police departments, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation.