NJ Man Charged After Setting Off Explosive Device: Police

Princeton NJ

18 October, 2021

11:35 AM

Description

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Hamilton man was charged and detained over the weekend after he set off explosive devices on the side of a Mercer County road, authorities said. Branton B. Meshofski was charged with several counts of second degree possession of an explosive device and second degree possession of a destructive device. Hamilton police said they were conducting an investigation Saturday in the area of Groverville-Allentown Road after ongoing reports of numerous loud explosions in the area. At around 6:30 p.m., the Hamilton Police Anti-Crime Unit stopped a car driven by a man suspected to have detonated an explosive device a short distance from the explosion site, police said. The New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit responded and rendered the area safe. Meshofski was transported to the Mercer County Correctional Facility and is awaiting arraignment, police said. It was not immediately clear how many explosions reportedly went off or if any additional explosives were in Meshofski's car as he was taken into custody. Detectives from the Mercer County Prosecutor's office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also assisted in the investigation. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Hamilton Detective Danie Inman of the Criminal Investigations Section at (609) 581-4035 or via email [email protected]. They can also call the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008. Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected]. Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.