By Barbara A. Preston | April 2, 2026
A suspicious sound coming from a garbage can in the Palmer Square area of Princeton attracted assistance from the NJ State Police Bomb Squad on March 30 at 12:04 am. Nearby residences were evacuated, and hotel guests at the Nassau Inn who were staying in nearby rooms were relocated to another area of the building while the investigation was conducted.
Palmer Square management officials had directed Princeton police officers to the garbage can in question, located on Hulfish Street, where police said they had observed what appeared to be frayed wiring protruding from an item inside the garbage can and detected a continuous high-pitched audible noise.
Officers secured the area while the bomb squad conducted a thorough evaluation.
After further examination, the squad ultimately identified the device as a battery-operated insulin pump that had been discarded in the garbage can. The device was determined to be non-hazardous, and the area was deemed safe.
Residents and hotel guests were then permitted to return to their homes and rooms.
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The Princeton Police Department thanked the State Police Bomb Squad, Palmer Square management, the Nassau Inn staff, and the public for their cooperation and patience during the incident.
