Holmdel Man Ignited Explosives In Hazlet Parking Lot: Prosecutor

HOLMDEL, NJ - A Holmdel Township man is facing charges after igniting molotov cocktail explosive devices on three nights last week in a business parking lot, prosecutors said.

Brendan J. Dunne, 24, was charged with four counts of third degree Possession of a
Destructive Device, as well as the petty disorderly persons offense of Disorderly Conduct, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said.

On July 19 at around 10:10 p.m., the Hazlet Township Police Department responded to a report of a fire in the parking lot of the Route 35 Costco and Cinemark movie theater complex. An investigation found that the origin of the fire appeared to be a glass bottle containing charred pieces of cardboard, also known as a homemade Molotov cocktail.

Further investigation conducted b y the Hazlet Township Police Department revealed similar fires being ignited at the same location on July 21 and two on July 22, prosecutors said.

Dunne was identified and subsequently arrested thanks to assistance from the Holmdel Township Police Department and detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Acting Prosecutor Linskey credited the efforts of the local police departments, as well as the FBI and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, for the investigation that led to Dunne’s arrest.

“Whenever crimes like this occur, there is an urgent need to catch those who are responsible. We are happy that we were able to work with our local, county, state and federal law enforcement partners to bring this case to a quick conclusion.”

Dunne faces up to five years on each of the third degree crimes. He is lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a detention hearing scheduled for this week.