East Germantown man charged with throwing mysterious liquid device at lawmaker's office

An East Germantown man has been charged with throwing a mysterious liquid device at a state lawmaker's campaign office and planting another one at a recreation center, police said.

Bryan Malachi, 20, of East Mayland Street near Washington Lane, is charged with simple assault, possessing instruments of crime and recklessly endangering another person.

Police said Malachi threw a device at the campaign office of state Rep. Dwight Evans, located on Limekiln Pike near Walnut Lane, on Monday afternoon. Evans was not in the office at the time and no one was injured.

Malachi is also charged with leaving a similar device inside the men's restroom at Simons Recreation Center. According to KYW-TV, witnesses saw Malachi toss the device into a trash can, causing a small explosion. No one was injured.

Police said the mysterious liquid was a green, caustic substance that -- although not explosive -- could burn the skin or cause blindness if it came in contact with one's eyes. The liquid was found in a 20-ounce clear, plastic bottle.

A police spokeswoman said it is unclear whether Evans was the target. Evans' chief of staff, Kim Turner, said she was not aware of Evans receiving any threats. Turner also said neither Evans nor the staff knew Malachi.

Malachi was arrested Tuesday after witnesses identified him to police.