Target Evacuated: AT&T Sales Rep Arrested for Bomb Threat During Her Shift in Edgewater
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Edgewater NJ, a Saturday afternoon shopping trip turned into a chaotic scene for North Jersey residents after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the Edgewater Target. In a bizarre twist, police have arrested an on-duty AT&T employee working inside the store, alleging she made the threat from her own cell phone before returning to finish her shift.
The incident took place on January 3, 2026, at the popular Edgewater Commons shopping center.
The Incident: 1:41 PM Evacuation
According to Edgewater Police Chief Donald Martin, authorities received a phone call reporting a bomb threat at the Target located at 543 River Road at 1:41 p.m.
Officers arrived on the scene immediately, clearing all patrons and employees from the building. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit and the Edgewater Fire Department conducted a thorough sweep of the premises. By 2:30 p.m., the store was deemed safe and reopened to the public.
Surveillance Video Leads to Shocking Arrest
The investigation by the Edgewater Police Detective Bureau quickly turned toward the staff inside the building. Detectives identified the suspect as Jossi Duarte, a 22-year-old resident of West New York.
According to police reports:
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Duarte was working inside the store as an AT&T sales representative at the time of the call.
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Surveillance footage allegedly caught Duarte walking away from her designated work area to make the call on her personal cell phone.
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Most surprisingly, Duarte reportedly evacuated with the rest of the crowd but returned to the store after it reopened to complete her work shift as if nothing had happened.
Charges and Legal Consequences
Duarte was arrested at her home in West New York at approximately 10:30 p.m. that same evening. She is currently facing several serious charges:
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Second-Degree False Public Alarms
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Third-Degree Terroristic Threats
Duarte was transported to the Bergen County Jail. Chief Martin reminded the public that these charges are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Rising Cost of False Alarms
False public alarms aren’t just a nuisance; they are a significant drain on local resources. In New Jersey, a second-degree charge for a false public alarm can carry a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years and massive fines. This incident disrupted hundreds of shoppers and required the deployment of multiple emergency agencies, highlighting why authorities take such “pranks” or threats so seriously.
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