The 18-year-old watched as authorities cleared the store four times in the past week in Warren Counthy, police said.
Joseph Otto was bored, according to Pohatcong Township police.
So Otto, 18, of the 100 block of Windtryst Way in White Township, would call Warren County 911 and say there was a man with a gun in the Wal-Mart at 1300 Roue 22 outside Phillipsburg, Detective Sgt. Scott Robb said.
While emergency responders emptied and searched the store on four occasions since last Wednesday, Otto would sit in his vehicle and watch, Robb said. When the "emergency" was over, Otto allegedly would go home.
Wal-Mart evacuated twice in 2 days
That scenario played out just after midnight last Wednesday, at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, at 2:20 a.m. Monday and again at 9:05 p.m. Monday, Robb said.
Each time, the store was cleared and a search found nothing. The store lost thousands in sales, Robb said.
Investigations are also underway involving Otto and similar "swatting" incidents at a QuickChek in Washington Township (twice), a QuickChek in White Township and at Skoogy's in Belvidere, Robb said. Pohatcong police plan to pass on information to police in the other jurisdictions.
"He said it was boredom" that caused Otto to make the calls in Pohatcong, Robb said.
"I wish I had a better story," the sergeant said. "He would sit in his vehicle, make the phone call, observe the police activity. ... At no time was there a man with a gun, nor did he want there to be a man with a gun. He did it so he had something to do."
A 16-year-old boy is under investigation for possibly being with Otto during the Pohatcong crimes, Robb said.
The investigation involved three patrol officers and two detectives from the township. The responses not only involved township police but officers from Phillipsburg and Lopatcong and Pohatcong townships and New Jersey State Police, as well as EMS services from Phillipsburg, Robb said. The fire department was on standby each time.
"It took a lot of resources away from individuals in more need," Robb said. "We had to take it as a credible threat."
Otto, who was to make his first appearance Tuesday morning in Superior Court in Belvidere, is charged with four counts of misuse of 911, four counts of creating a false public alarm and four counts of false reports to law enforcement.
Police received two cellphone numbers from the county 911 operation and, working with the cellphone provider, were able to identify Otto and track the movements of the phones, Robb said.
With the final incident being reported at 9:05 p.m. Monday, police acted quickly and Otto was found by 11:30 p.m. at his home, Robb said.
Otto was not jailed on the third- and fourth-degree offenses, Robb said.
Pohatcong Mayor James Kern III praised police in a prepared statement
"I commend our law enforcement professionals for their quick apprehension of this suspect," Kern wrote in an email. "In today's climate, these threats cannot be taken lightly. I hope that anyone considering these acts will think otherwise as you will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.