A 48-year-old New Jersey man was arrested for allegedly producing explosive devices after a year-long investigation, officials say.
Authorities say Richard Dracikiewicz, of Toms River, was charged this week with possession of a destructive device and unlawful possession of a weapon.
The investigation began in August 2013 when neighbors reported hearing sporadic explosions in the late evening and early morning hours. In December of that year, a resident reported seeing an "exhaust or burn trail" in the sky near his home, which helped investigators narrow the search area, authorities say.
Eight similar reports came in over the next nine months. On Sunday, an officer on patrol in the area saw a bright white flash in the sky and heard an explosion. He isolated the location of the explosion to Dracikiewicz's Pine Brook Road home.
A judge issued a search warrant two days later, and executing officers found five improvised explosive devices, prosecutors say. Chemicals that could be used to produce explosive devices were also found, as well as metal tubing, fiberglass, PVC, steel and cardboard that allegedly were intended to be filled with explosive materials and detonated. Prosecutors say investigators recovered evidence of previous detonations from the home.
Dracikiewicz was arrested that day. Investigators believe he was allegedly creating and deploying the devices as a hobby, and they say there is no specific threat.
Dracikiewicz was released from custody pending a future target. Information on his attorney wasn't immediately available.
