Investigation continues into explosive devices found in home near South Plainfield Labor Day Parade route

BY Christopher Lang, Correspondent, @topherlang2, MonroeNow, Sep 3, 2019

SOUTH PLAINFIELD – Authorities are continuing their investigation after a township resident was arrested for possessing explosive devices, which resulted in the South Plainfield Labor Day Parade and activities being canceled on Monday.

Authorities charged Thomas G. Kaiser, 55, of South Plainfield with second-degree possession of a destructive device for an unlawful purpose and third-degree possession of a destructive device.

Authorities said additional charges are likely forthcoming, according to a statement released by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. The statement did not say what the destructive devices were. 

South Plainfield Police canceled the parade at 7:15 a.m. “out of an abundance of caution and due to the potential threat to the community.”

Aside from local dignitaries and community members, Governor Murphy and his wife, Tammy, were scheduled to march in the Labor Day Parade.

Sea Bright Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office began an investigation on Sunday after the local authorities found a “suspicious package with a destructive device,” that was left at Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.

That joint investigation led to the home of Kaiser in South Plainfield, authorities said. Other destructive devices were allegedly found near Kaiser’s home, which “is located in the vicinity of the start of the South Plainfield Labor Day Parade,” resulting in its cancellation.

Kaiser was arrested and transported to the Sea Bright Police Department.

Authorities remind that “if anyone sees or uncovers a suspicious package, they are urged to contact law enforcement.”

The joint investigation by the two county prosecutor’s offices and the South Plainfield and Sea Bright police departments was also aided by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, FBI, and NJ bomb squad.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Daniel Chernavsky of the Sea Bright Police Department at 732-842-0010, Detective Shawn Murphy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-803-5406, or the South Plainfield Police Department at 908-755-0700.