Sep 4, 2008 6:05 am US/Eastern
Brigantine Shore Reopened After Medical Waste Find
BRIGANTINE, N.J. (CBS 3) ―
Problems continue to plague the Jersey shore as Brigantine's beaches were shut down Wednesday morning after the discovery of medical waste.
A man walking on the beach reported spotted a syringe. on the 34th Street beach at about 7:30 a.m.
The Atlantic County Division of Public Health was called to the scene combed the beaches and found a rubber glove, some bandages, gauze pads, needle caps and a medical identification tag.
Officials announced the closure of the beaches, even to foot traffic, at about 11:30 a.m.
The waste was collected and state health officials will store it for a potential criminal investigation.
"The state asked that we place it into evidence and that we conduct a further search on the beach," said Sgt. James Bennett of the Brigantine Police Department.
After an extensive search of the shoreline, officials reopened the beach just after 3 p.m.
Nearby in Atlantic City, a bag of nearly 100 individually wrapped needles was found near
Atlantic City's Steel Pier. Investigators believe the bag was placed in
the location and did not wash in with the tide.
Investigators are trying to still working to determine the source of the medical waste.
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