Two men are accused of throwing an explosive near a Catasauqua polling place Tuesday, prompting multiple road closures while voting continued during the primary election.
Matthew Pletz, 56, and Jack Pletz, 24, allegedly threw a small homemade explosive device near the Salem United Church of Christ at 615 Third St. Tuesday morning during an incident police said was not connected to the election. No one was hurt, and nothing was damaged.
State police wrote in court documents that a pickup truck drove by the area about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, and an explosive sound was heard shortly after. Investigators went to the area and found remnants of an explosive device, which included cardboard fragments and melted red end caps that are consistent with certain explosive devices, according to court documents.
Troopers viewed surveillance footage and saw the pickup truck park near Pine Street, police said. Witnesses identified the driver of the truck, Jack Pletz, and the passenger, Matthew Pletz, charging documents state. Police searched the truck and found 17 small homemade explosive devices in it, according to authorities.
Both men are charged with felonies of possessing weapons of mass destruction and risking catastrophe, as well as misdemeanors of carrying explosives, dealing in offensive weapons and possessing an instrument of crime. Matthew Pletz was arraigned Tuesday night and sent to Lehigh County Jail on $50,000 bail. Jack Pletz has not been arraigned as of Wednesday morning.
Officials closed Third Street between Pine and Chapel streets and Walnut Street Crane and Limestone streets while police investigated the incident. The explosive detonated about half a block away from the church, and police said the incident was isolated. It did not affect voting throughout the day; voters were asked to use a side entrance of the church as the investigation continued.