A man accused along with his father of throwing an explosive near a polling location Tuesday morning in Catasauqua turned himself in Thursday.

The Lehigh County district attorney’s office said Jack Pletz, 24, turned himself in to state police a few hours after the DA held a news conference on the charges against him and his father, Matthew Pletz, 56.

The two allegedly threw a small homemade explosive device near the Salem United Church of Christ at 615 Third St. The explosion did not injure anyone or cause any damage, and did not impact voting, police said.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said during a news conference Thursday that nothing in the investigation so far indicates the incident was connected to the primary election that was taking place Tuesday. He said investigators were not sure why the two allegedly threw the device.

Authorities said the two men were in a pickup truck that drove by the area about 9:15 a.m., and an explosive sound was heard shortly after. Investigators 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.

An incident Tuesday, May 19, 2026 in Catasauqua is closing several roads near a polling place while voting is under way in the Pennsylvania primary election.
The Catasauqua Fire Department posted on social media about 10:30 a.m. that Third Street between Pine and Chapel streets and Walnut Street Crane and Limestone streets are closed because of an “ongoing incident.” (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Troopers reviewed surveillance footage and saw the truck park near Pine Street, police said. Jack Pletz was identified as the driver, and Matthew Pletz was identified as the passenger, police said. Their truck was searched, and police found 17 small homemade explosive devices in it, court documents state. Holihan said their home was also searched and no additional explosives were found.

Matthew Pletz was arraigned Tuesday night on the charges, which include 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.

Jack Pletz was being arraigned Thursday evening on the same charges.