CATASAUQUA, Pa. – The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office said the two men charged after an explosive device was thrown from a vehicle near an Election Day polling place in Catasauqua Tuesday are father and son, and that the son is not yet in custody.
District Attorney Gavin Holihan discussed the charges in a news conference Thursday afternoon.
56-year-old Matthew Pletz and 24-year-old Jack Pletz were charged for allegedly throwing that explosive device from a truck. That polling place turned into a crime scene Tuesday at the Salem United Church of Christ.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
Matthew Pletz and Jack Pletz have each been charged with multiple felonies for allegedly detonating the explosive Tuesday.
Matthew Pletz has his preliminary hearing scheduled for May 26. Jack Pletz is not yet in custody, and there is a warrant out for his arrest, Holihan said in Thursday’s news conference.
Anybody who knows Jack Pletz’s whereabouts should call 911 or Pennsylvania State Police, Holihan said. Do not approach Jack Pletz if you see him, Holihan said.
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Holihan said Jack Pletz is 5-foot-5 and weighs 180 pounds.
Authorities do not have any insight at this time into a possible motive, said Holihan.
When police searched their truck after the incident, they found 17 more explosive devices inside, Holihan said.
The district attorney said, at this point, there is no evidence to suggest the polling place/church was targeted.
The investigation is ongoing.