'Dark Knight' Showing Halted In NJ

A "Dark Knight Rises" showing was halted in Bergen County because of unusual activity near an emergency door.

About 100 moviegoers in Edgewater were evacuated from a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" on Monday night after a patron saw someone opening an emergency exit, officials said.

Police Sgt. Steven Titus told The Star-Ledger that a 911 caller reported a man stood up about 90 minutes into the movie, opened an emergency exit, spoke to someone outside, and returned to his seat.

When the man could not be found, police were called. They stopped the movie, turned on the house lights, and asked the person to come forward. None of the 100 people in the audience owned up, so the theater was evacuated and the screening cancelled.

"It is not a good idea to open the door after what happened in Colorado," Lt. Don Martin told reporters, referring to the Aurora massacre three days earlier, in which the gunman entered the theater through an emergency exit.

It was not the only scare that night. In Manahawkin, police arrested four men at a Regal theater after a report of suspicious activity. Stafford Police Sergeant John Linck said one man was arrested on outstanding warrants and his three associates on controlled dangerous substance charges — but no weapons were involved. "It is very good, in the wake of the Aurora shootings, that people are vigilant and aware of their surroundings," Linck said.