Man Charged After Setting Off Explosion in Atlantic City

Man Charged After Setting Off Explosion in Atlantic City
Police vehicle with lights on at a crime scene.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Atlantic City Police Department arrested Stacy Thomas, 38, of Atlantic City, following an explosion on the sidewalk of the 1500 block of Atlantic Avenue in the early hours of July 10, 2024.

At 2:03 AM, Officer Odalys Filippi-Sarmiento witnessed the explosion while patrolling the area. She saw a person fleeing the scene but stopped to check for any victims needing medical attention. Officer Filippi-Sarmiento found no injuries and confirmed that no structures or businesses were damaged. Surveillance footage helped identify the fleeing suspect.

The police department’s Bomb Squad, with assistance from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, assessed the scene. Investigators found that Thomas had placed four butane canisters on the sidewalk and ignited a fuse causing the explosion.

At around 4:00 AM, Officer Cuong Sam apprehended Thomas in the 1100 block of Arctic Avenue without incident.