PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, October 27 at approximately 2:29 p.m. the Parsippany Police Department’s Communication Center received a call reporting a gas leak located at the loading docks of the Hilton Hotel, 1 Hilton Court.
Upon the arrival of the responding Police and Fire personnel, they were advised that an event was currently taking place at the hotel and approximately 3,000 guests were present.
The popular Chiller Theatre Expo is horror-themed is being held at the hotel. This weekend’s show, which kicked off Friday and is scheduled to last through Sunday, include headliners such as Robert Wagner & Jill St. John, Stefanie Powers, Loretta Swit, Barbara Eden, “L.A. Law,” “Good Times,” and “The Love Boat” cast reunions, T.K. Carter, Kim Fields, Pauly Shore and many more.
An immediate evacuation of the loading dock area and ballroom was conducted.
During the evacuation, the Parsippany Police Department’s Communication Center received a phone call from an employee at the Hilton Hotel front desk.
The employee reported that an unknown suspect had just phoned in a bomb threat to them. An immediate evacuation of the entire structure was ordered, which includes Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Hampton Inn Hotel, along with a request for mutual aid due to the number of guests present.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and Bomb Squad responded to the scene, along with members of the New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit. A check of the interior and exterior of the structure was completed and no devices were located.
At approximately 6:00 p.m. all guests and vendors were allowed back into the structure.
The gas leak was repaired and checked by New Jersey Natural Gas personnel.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief of Police Andrew Miller would like to thank all of the participating agencies:
Morris County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and Bomb Squad
Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations
Hanover Police Department
Morristown Police Department
Morris County Park Police
Morris Township Police Department
Morris Plains Police Department
Denville Police Department
New Jersey State Police
Parsippany Fire Prevention
Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department District 1
Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire Department District 2
Lake Parsippany Volunteer Fire Department District 3
Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 6
Parsippany Office of Emergency Management
Chiller Theater Expo is one of the most popular and longest-running horror conventions in the country. It focuses on horror but including pop culture as a whole and it is in its 28th year. This editions guest list included include Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, Stefanie Powers, Barbara Eden, T.K. Carter, Kim Fields, Pauly Shore, pro wrestlers Bob Backlund and Paul Orndorff, Bai Ling, P.J. Soles, Ken Foree, Ice-T and Coco, Carmen Elecktra, Gumby, artist Ed Pepka, and cast reunions from shows like L.A. Law, Good Times, and The Love Boat, and films like Evil Dead, Day of the Dead, and more. It has also been featured on the Travel Channel on shows like Toy Hunter and more.
