NEWARK — Federal prosecutors have charged a man who allegedly brought a baseball bat into a Newark federal building and later damaged property before fleeing the area, officials announced.
Keith Michael Lisa, 51, was arrested in Barnegat on November 15 and appeared November 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte. He is charged with possessing a dangerous weapon in a federal facility and damaging federal property. Lisa was ordered detained.
Court filings say Lisa arrived at the Peter Rodino Federal Building on November 12 shortly before 5 p.m. carrying a full-size aluminum baseball bat and told security officers he needed to visit the Attorney General’s Office. When guards informed him that the bat could not be brought inside, he left the building but returned minutes later without it.
Officials said Lisa appeared agitated when he passed through security a second time. He then went to the U.S. Attorney’s Office reception area, where witnesses reported he was visibly angry and threatened to “tear the place up.” As he exited the building, investigators say he knocked framed items from the walls, damaging federal property.
Authorities launched a search after learning Lisa had left the area. Prosecutors said he did not surrender and instead went into hiding, prompting a coordinated search by federal, state, and local agencies. He was taken into custody in Barnegat. Some published reports said his mother resides in the township.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba credited the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations offices in Newark and New York, the Federal Protective Service, New Jersey State Police, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and police in Mahwah and Barnegat for locating and arresting Lisa.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari B. Fontecchio and Lauren Kober are handling the case.
The charges are accusations, and Lisa is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
