Police seized homemade explosives, more than 30 guns and large-capacity ammunition feeders Wednesday from a North Andover home and brought charges against a 64-year-old resident after an explosion that damaged two cars.
Daniel Medina, 59 Village Green Drive, North Andover, was charged with five felony counts tied to being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing and improperly storing an automatic rifle and vandalizing property. He pled not guilty Wednesday in Lawrence District Court and will be held without bail until a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday, July 12.
In a joint statement, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray said officials obtained and used a search warrant after Medina allegedly set off an explosive device that damaged two vehicles. They added Medina later returned, “apparently to try to conceal the damage with spray paint.” They said many of the guns taken do not contain serial numbers and Medina’s license to carry weapons expired 24 years ago.
“Anyone who is under the impression that they will not face consequences for illegally stockpiling weapons without a license is absolutely wrong,” said Tucker. “We will continue to prosecute in such cases in order to keep our communities safe.”
North Andover Police and Fire Departments, Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad and Crime Scene Services units, Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Joint Hazard Incident Response Team and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, responded. They were joined by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Lawrence General Hospital Advanced Life Support Paramedics.
Gray said officials “appreciate the citizens of North Andover who, despite inconveniences, allowed this investigation to take place without interruption.”