'Alert' From NJ Police Dogs Prompted American Dream Evacuation: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — State police said American Dream Mall in Bergen County was evacuated Tuesday night because two sets of police dogs indicated there might be a dangerous or illegal item in a vehicle. READ MORE: Suspicious Vehicle Prompts Police Response At American Dream Mall

It was around 8 p.m. Tuesday that state police sent out a mass text alert telling people to avoid American Dream in East Rutherford, and warning people inside to evacuate the mall.

Police said that after 5:30 p.m., security at the mall saw an illegally parked Tesla outside with the driver's-side door left open and unattended.

Two American Dream police dogs conducted sweeps of the vehicle, which resulted in a "positive alert," said State Police Spokesman Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron.

Then, two more police dogs, from Bergen County and the state police, also produced a "positive alert," he said.

However, The State Police Bomb Unit and Bergen County Bomb Unit responded, thoroughly cleared the Tesla and found no indication of any explosives," Lebron said.

Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli said State Police also called Secaucus Police in as backup.

American Dream was then reopened to all employees and visitors, Lebron said.

Lebron said no further information would be released about the incident.

Patch Editor Carly Baldwin contributed to this report.

READ MORE: Suspicious Vehicle Prompts Police Response At American Dream Mall