Story by Ethan
On May 15th, 2026, the arrest of Peter W. Randolph, age 45, was announced by Hunterdon County Prosecutor Reneé M. Robeson. Peter W. Randolph was charged with second-degree False Public Alarms and third-degree Terroristic Threats. The arrest and charges against Peter W. Randolph were a result of an investigation handled by the Raritan Township Police Department and the New Jersey State Police.
According to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, on May 12th, 2026, the Raritan Township Police Department was notified by a Lowe’s employee that Peter W. Randolph called their corporate call center with harmful threats. The defendant had previously purchased a lawn mower from the Lowe’s location in Raritan Township, and after being dissatisfied with it the store attempted to remediate. The Lowe’s corporate call center reported that the defendant threatened to “blow up” the Raritan Township store with various chemicals in addition to planning to “shoot everyone” inside the building. The New Jersey State Police responded to Peter W. Randolph’s residence where he was taken into custody without incident. Raritan Township Police Department officers executed a sweep of the threatened Lowe’s location and the surrounding area, however no explosives, hazardous materials, or other threats were uncovered. A court-authorized search warrant was carried out at Peter W. Randolph’s residence that recovered a hoax explosive device and several firearms.
The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Peter W. Randolph are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
