A New Jersey man’s brazen online activity led law enforcement to uncover a large stockpile of weapons hidden within his suburban home this week. Kyle Arena, a 35-year-old resident of Totowa, NJ, is now facing multiple firearms and weapons charges after police conducted a raid on his house based on the information they found on his Facebook page. The home search resulted in the confiscation of rifles, handguns, knives, ninja stars, brass knuckles, 129 fully loaded illegal high-capacity magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and even four explosives.
The investigation began when an anonymous tipster alerted police to Arena’s concerning social media posts and alleged weapons arsenal, providing them with screengrabs from Arena’s Facebook account. The evidence gathered from these screenshots served as probable cause for Totowa police to obtain a search and seize warrant, called a “Temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order,” which allowed them to search the suspect’s home on Lincoln Avenue where he lives with his parents.
Investigators discovered the huge cache of weapons hidden in a crawl space inside the house, while bomb-sniffing dogs were able to locate four explosive devices. The discovery left many of Arena’s neighbors feeling shocked and concerned, with one resident telling ABC7, “I was in shock. I never would have expected anything of that magnitude would happen in Totowa.
Officers seized all the weapons found during the search, and Kyle Arena was arrested without incident. He is currently being held by the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office and faces multiple charges related to illegal firearms possession. His 66-year-old father, Felix Arena, was also taken into custody during the search and has been charged with disorderly conduct, terroristic threats, and resisting arrest.
This incident highlights the potential dangers of sharing questionable content on social media platforms and serves as a reminder for users to be cautious about what they post online. The anonymous tipster who reported Arena’s concerning activity played a vital role in helping law enforcement uncover this massive stockpile of weapons, potentially preventing a catastrophic event from occurring.
