Old Bridge Man Behind Christmas Light Show Arrested In Pot Charge

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — An Old Bridge couple was arrested this week after police said they found a large amount of marijuana candy and raw marijuana inside their home.

And it's the same Old Bridge husband-wife team who for years ran a notorious Christmas light show out of that same house, according to police.

Thomas Apruzzi's holiday lights attracted statewide fame, appeared on ABC's "Great Christmas Light Fight," and also sparked a multi-year feud with the town of Old Bridge.

According to Old Bridge police, their narcotics unit executed a search warrant Thursday at the home on Central Avenue. Inside, police say they discovered more than five pounds of marijuana-infused candy and individually packaged chocolate, as well as more than 50 grams of raw marijuana.

Police say they also found numerous amounts of drug paraphernalia, meant for dealing and distribution. Homeowners Apruzzi, 59, and his wife, Kristine, 53, were arrested and charged with multiple drug-related summonses.

It's the same Thomas Apruzzi who for years has run the Christmas light show, Old Bridge police confirmed.

When Patch called Apruzzi to ask if he had a comment, he hung up the phone.

For the past 15 years, the light show went off every 28 minutes every night in December, and was synched to music.

Apruzzi, who often dressed like Santa at the event, put on the lights to the fury of many of his neighbors, who have been complaining for years about their dead-end street being trampled by as many as 150 visitors every night.

The crowds really skyrocketed in 2014, when the Apruzzi family was selected to compete in ABC's "Great Christmas Light Fight."

Things got so bad that in 2018, Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry told the couple they would personally have to shell out $2,000 a night to pay for private security. To which Apruzzi responded by calling the mayor "a Grinch" and said he was the victim of a "shakedown."

Apruzzi poured about $100,000 into setting up his lights ever year, and his show was entirely free, although he did ask for donations.

Last year, as a compromise with Old Bridge, Apruzzi relocated his light show to the Middlesex County fairgrounds in East Brunswick, a town Apruzzi said was "more Christmas-light friendly."

Both he and his wife were issued multiple drug-related summonses and released Thursday.

Past coverage of the Apruzzi Christmas lights:

Controversial Old Bridge Xmas Light Show Moves To East Brunswick (Oct. 2019)

Old Bridge Residents Complain About Neighbor's Christmas Lights (Dec. 2017)