Courthouse Bomb Threat Leads To Union County Man's Arrest

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A Union County man was charged for making a bomb threat to the Superior Courthouse of Middlesex County back in October.

An investigation led by Detective Shadi Zaiton of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office found that Tiago Santana-Silva, 30, of Elizabeth used a fake email address to send the bomb threat to courthouse staff.

Santana-Silva was arrested Sunday and charged with one count of second-degree false public alarm, as well as separate counts of third- and fourth-degree terroristic threats.

The Middlesex County Sheriff's Department was made aware of the bomb threat on Oct. 25, 2021. The Superior Courthouses located at 50 Paterson Street and 120 New Street in New Brunswick were subsequently inspected for explosives by the Sheriff's Department.

A comprehensive search determined that there were no explosives in either building.

Santana-Silva was sent to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center and is awaiting a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Zaiton at 732-745-4263.