Keansburg Memorial Day Parade Will Happen Now That Arrest Was Made In St. Paddy's Parade

KEANSBURG, NJ — Now that a man was arrested for putting a possible explosive device along the route of the Keansburg St. Patrick's Day parade, Keansburg Mayor George Hoff said the town's Memorial Day parade will go ahead as planned in May.

"If there was no arrest made, we were not going to have it," Hoff said Tuesday morning. "Because the person would still be out there. It's too late for the St. Patrick's Day parade; that will not be rescheduled this year. But our Memorial Day parade is tentatively scheduled for May 17 and that will now go ahead as planned."

Brick resident Christopher Otis, 56, who actually works as a fire safety official, is accused of planting the suspicious device; officials declined to say exactly what he is accused of leaving, saying it would compromise their case. But Otis was the first person who alerted law enforcement he found the device on the parade route early that morning, March 28. Otis works as the Fire Safety and Environmental Compliance Officer at Brookdale Community College, where he has been suspended without pay. The college intends to fire him, said a Brookdale spokeswoman.

Also, Otis was supposed to march in the parade that morning; Brookdale has a group that marches and he was going to walk with them. He is charged with possession of a destructive device, false public alarm and providing false information to a police officer.

"It's shocking," said Hoff Tuesday.

Hoff also said the following: "On behalf of the Mayor and Council and the Keansburg Parade Committee we would like to thank the outstanding members of the Keansburg Police Department under Chief Burton and Deputy Chief King for their actions in helping to bring this unfortunate incident to closure. We also offer our sincere thanks to the following agencies for their assistance and support in this matter: The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office under Prosecutor Raymond Santiago, The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Shaun Golden, The F.B.I, The Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, The New Jersey State Police, The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Brick Police Department under Chief Forrester, The Middletown Police Department under Chief Craig Weber, The Governor’s Office and NJ State Senator Vin Gopal."

"With an arrest being made, the parade committee will now move forward with preparations for the Memorial Day parade. We hope that you will all come out to support and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country!"

Man Who 'Found' Explosive Device At Keansburg St. Paddy's Parade Charged With Putting It There (April 14)