TERENCE HOUCK
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Northampton County Government Center
669 Washington Street
Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
Phone (610) 829-6630 Fax (610) 559-3035
PRESS RELEASE
MARCH 20, 2023
Today, District Attorney Terry Houck announces charges against 57-year-old Joseph Zanette and 32-
year-old Justin Taylor in relation to the explosions which occurred in Pen Argyl Borough over the
weekend.
Each defendant faces charges of Arson Endangering Property, Possession of Explosive Material, Risking
Catastrophe, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. Zanette, of S. Westbrook Avenue in Pen
Argyl, is currently incarcerated in Northampton County Prison with bail set at $125,000, while Taylor, of
the 6400 block of Heitzman Road in Pen Argyl, has an active arrest warrant.
On March 18, Slate Belt Regional Police were dispatched shortly after 3 a.m. to E. Laurel Avenue in Pen
Argyl Borough for a loud explosion. Upon arrival, officers were unable to locate any suspects. Police
continued to receive complaints later that day regarding a loud explosion that occurred around 3 a.m.,
causing residents’ houses to shake.
Through investigation, police reviewed multiple surveillance cameras in the area, which depicted two
males, later identified as the defendants, walking northbound on N. Westbrook Avenue. Taylor was
observed carrying a black, large cylindrical tube, approximately 3 feet long and 8 inches in diameter,
which is commonly used in the propulsion of aerial and mortar shells.
Additional video depicted the defendants walking on E. Applegate Avenue minutes later, where police
observed Taylor and Zanette at a residence on the Avenue. Taylor placed the cylindrical object he was
carrying on the porch and propped it against the railing. The video then depicts the defendants walking
toward the rear of the property, coming back to the front of the residence to retrieve the cylindrical object,
and a half hour later a series of three loud explosions coming from the rear or side of the residence on E.
Applegate Avenue.
Police obtained and executed search warrants for the residence on E. Applegate Avenue and for Zanette’s
residence on S. Westbrook Avenue in the borough. Police seized various items at both locations,
including but not limited to, one white PVD cylindrical pipe with burnt explosive debris, 12 mortar cakes
with 25 rounds each, 2 large mortar cakes with 100 rounds each, one 144 pack of bottle rockets, 66 roman
candles, and equipment related to fireworks and explosive materials.
While police were on scene at S. Westbrook Avenue, Zanette arrived home. After police read Zanette his
Miranda Rights, Zanette admitted to setting off explosions in a residential area less than 150 feet from a
residential occupied structure. He told police he ignited the explosives with Justin Taylor, and he had
been drinking when he caused the explosions.
TERENCE HOUCK
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Northampton County Government Center
669 Washington Street
Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
Phone (610) 829-6630 Fax (610) 559-3035
Zanette was further interviewed by police at the Slate Belt Regional Police station, where he subsequently
stated the explosion was a mistake and admitted to possessing the aerial shells and aerial cakes, which are
prohibited from possessing under federal law.
“The possession of these illegal, explosive devices are dangerous and could cause significant injury to
innocent people. People’s homes were shaking when these devices were discharged in their
neighborhood. We will continue to have zero tolerance for the individuals who possess or detonate these
explosives,” District Attorney Houck said. “Thank you to Slate Belt Regional Police for their diligent
efforts to keep the Pen Argyl community safe, and to the assisting agencies, which include the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bethlehem City Bomb Squad, the Bushkill Township,
Bangor Borough, and Washington Township police departments, Suburban EMS, Bushkill Township
EMS, and the Lookout Fire Department.”
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