John Doyle Sr. allegedly made comments to three people that he and his “several thousand followers” would “take care of” a prosecutor who had offered him a plea deal in a criminal case.
The Mercer County Criminal Courthouse in Trenton.
A Camden County man who allegedly threatened to blow up a state police barracks and the house and car of a deputy attorney general must undergo a second psychological evaluation before he can post $60,000 bail, a Superior Court judge in Trenton ruled this morning.
John Doyle Sr., 43, of Gloucester City was arrested after he allegedly sent messages to a deputy attorney general and made comments to three people that he and his “several thousand followers” would “take care of” a prosecutor who had offered him a plea deal in a criminal case.
Supervising Deputy Attorney General Mark Eliades said Doyle sent threats to another prosecutor in his office saying, “This is war.” He also said he would place an improvised explosive device under the state police barracks, Eliades said.
The threats came after the prosecutor presented a plea offer on drug charges filed in Camden County to Doyle’s attorney in early January, Eliades said. Doyle and his juvenile son had allegedly been selling prescription drugs from their home.
Investigators had searched the home in March 2012 and found “several hundred prescription drugs and a bullet proof vest among other things,” Eliades said. Doyle is also facing aggravated assault, burglary and weapons charges from an incident in November 2012.
A Camden County judge sent Doyle for mental health evaluation on Jan. 25, Eliades said, and Doyle was released after a doctor determined he was not a threat to himself or others.
While he was under evaluation, Doyle told people at the hospital that he could arrange for someone to bring a 9mm weapon into the facility and made threats to the employees, Eliades said.
The state police subsequently took him to the Mercer County Corrections Center, where he remains, Eliades said.
Doyle gave a statement to state police acknowledging that he made the threats but said he never intended to kill anyone, Eliades said.
“He also admitted to having serious mental health problems,” Eliades said.
Doyle’ attorney did not appear at the hearing this morning, but the judge said if an attorney is able to appear on Doyle's behalf he would reconsider the terms of the bail. Doyle agreed this morning to undergo a new psychological evaluation.