An Atlantic City man told police a stranger paid him $10 to set off an explosion early Wednesday morning.
Stacy Thomas, 38, was arrested less than two hours after he was allegedly seen running after lighting four butane canisters on fire in the 1500 block of Atlantic Avenue, Capt. Kevin Fair said.
Officer Odalys Filippi-Sarmiento was driving in the area just after 2 a.m., when she saw the explosion, and a man running from the area, according to the report.
The officer first stopped to make sure no one was injured at the site of the explosion, and then checked for damage to surrounding structures, finding none, Fair said.
Members of the Police Department’s Bomb Squad responded to the area with assistance from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
During the investigation, officers obtained surveillance video of the suspect who was the man that was seen leaving the area, Fair said.
Officer Cuong Sam spotted Thomas just before 4 a.m. in the 1100 block of Arctic Avenue, Fair said.
He was arrested without incident.
It was determined that he placed four butane canisters on the sidewalk before lighting a fuse that led to the explosion.
But Thomas insisted that a stranger paid him $10, and that he used his own lighter, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
He could not produce the bill, saying he spent it at Cedar Market shortly after lighting the canisters, the affidavit states.
No stranger was seen in the surveillance But because of the alleged admission, he was additionally charged with a first-degree crime of accepting payment for lighting a explosive device.
It is the only first-degree charge he faces.
Thomas consented to a search of his home, where police did not find any IED components, but did find a glass crack pipe, leading to disorderly persons charged of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where he is awaiting a first appearance.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Atlantic City police at 609-347-5766. Information may also be texted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.
