A months-long investigation has ended with a startling discovery inside a home in Denville, New Jersey, where police say they uncovered a large collection of homemade explosives, News 12 New Jersey reported. Investigators are still working to learn more about what was being assembled at the residence.
When investigators executed a search warrant earlier this week, they say they found a homemade laboratory containing materials used to make homemade explosives. Alongside it were firearms and ammunition, turning what looked like an ordinary house into what officials portrayed as a serious public safety threat.
The most alarming part of the find was the sheer number of devices. According to the authorities, the home held 109 individual homemade explosive devices, which officials described as capable of mass destruction, a quantity that helps explain the scale of the police operation that followed.
The case did not come together overnight. According to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, the investigation began back in March, meaning officers had been building the case for months before moving in with the warrant this week.
The discovery brought a heavy response to the neighborhood. There was a large police presence at the scene, and bomb technicians worked to secure the surrounding area while the materials inside the home were assessed and handled.
The homeowner is now in the legal system. Joseph Ressos, 37, is facing multiple charges, including possession of destructive devices and recklessly risking widespread injury, reflecting both the cache that was seized and the danger officials say it posed to those living nearby.
For now, the inquiry remains open. Investigators say they are continuing to look into the case to determine more about the materials and devices found at the home, even as the immediate threat to the Denville neighborhood has been contained.