A South Plainfield man was arrested and charged with possession of a destructive device for an unlawful purpose after authorities canceled Monday’s Labor Day Parade and other related activities there.
Additional charges are expected against 55-year-old Thomas Kaiser, authorities said. Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy had been scheduled to march in the parade, which had been set to start at 10 a.m.
Authorities announced their decision to call off the parade on social media at around 7:15 a.m. due to a “security concern.” A heavy police presence appeared along the parade route as well as in in Spring Lake Park.
The parade, a 5k run and fireworks display were all canceled. Authorities said they made the decision “out of an abundance of caution and due to the potential threat to the community.”
According to authorities, a suspicious package with “a destructive device” was left at Donovan’s Reef bar in Sea Bright.
“During the investigation, it was learned that there were other destructive devices near [Kaiser’s] home which is located in the vicinity of the start of the South Plainfield Labor Day Parade,” according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Kaiser’s younger brother told CBS2’s Nick Caloway that Kaiser had brought one homemade firework to the bar.