Woman allegedly made false report about armed teen on Wildwood boardwalk

A Bristol woman has been charged with fabricating a story that she saw a teenager enter Morey's Piers with a gun on the Wildwood boardwalk last weekend, authorities said.

North Wildwood Police responded to the area of ​​25th Street and Beach after Taylor Erickson, 29, reportedly reported seeing an armed person enter the amusement park on June 22.

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As a precaution, police ordered the immediate evacuation of Morey's Piers to conduct an investigation. Taylor provided police with a detailed description of the suspect and the weapon she claimed to have seen in his possession, authorities said.

But when police found the teen, he had no weapon. Further investigation, including surveillance video from the area, did not match the information Erickson reported.

In a follow-up interview, Erickson allegedly admitted to police that she made up the story because she had gotten into an argument with a group of teenagers.

The incident comes amid growing concerns in Wildwood and other coastal communities that have faced disturbances and violence among young people. On Thursday, North Wildwood police charged two teenagers in connection with an assault on the boardwalk in early June. Last month, a teenager was arrested for allegedly stabbing a 15-year-old boy during a fight on the Ocean City boardwalk over Memorial Day weekend.

To address these issues, coastal towns have imposed curfews for minors and created more restrictions on their boardwalks and beaches.

New Jersey lawmakers introduced several statewide bills this week aimed at cracking down on unruly teens. Proposals include an increase in disorderly conduct charges and the possibility of holding parents accountable for their children's conduct. The bills are not expected to be considered until the fall, after state lawmakers return from their summer recess.

Erickson is accused of causing a false public alarm and filing a false report to law enforcement officers.