Ninja Locks Down School

ARNEGAT — A report of a ninja sighting in the woods near the Robert L.
Horbelt elementary School prompted a brief lockdown of the township's
public schools before authorities realized the suspect in question was
actually a camp counselor heading toward a costume party.
Shortly after 9 a.m., police received a call from a librarian at the
local Ocean County Library branch on Burr Street reporting that a man
dressed as a ninja, carrying a large sword, was running through the
woods, Lt. Patrick Shaffery said. Police then initiated a lockdown of
the five schools as a precaution, police said.
The lockdown — which restricts movement in and out of school buildings
— was lifted by 9:30 a.m. after police learned the man in question was
actually a camp counselor on his way to a costume-themed day at the
Russell O. Brackman Middle School. The counselor, who was wearing a
black karate gi and carrying a plastic sword, was running late and
decided to take a shortcut through the woods, Shaffery said.