Haverhill man arrested without bail in connection with explosive device

A Haverhill man has been charged in connection with an explosive device found in a neighborhood that led to the evacuation of the area and the detonation of the device, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, a spokesman for the office of the district attorney, told MassLive.

David Farnsworth, 63, was ordered held without bail following his appearance in Haverhill District Court on Monday, Tucker’s office said. Farnsworth was charged with throwing/placing explosives, possession of explosives, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of a large-capacity firearm, making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.

Farnsworth has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered held without bail, Tucker’s office said. He will appear in court again on July 19.

At about 8 a.m. June 28, Haverhill police received a report of a “subject of concern” at 5 Rosebud Avenue, Davine’s office said in a statement. Haverhill police and firefighters responded to the address and requested assistance from the state police fire and explosion investigation unit of Fire Marshal Jon Davine’s office.

Residents in the area were evacuated while bomb squad workers assessed any potential threats, Davine’s office said. Using robotic platforms and other tools, bomb squad technicians determined the device posed “a significant hazard and could not be safely transported,” Davine’s office continued.

The controlled detonation removed the device from the area and no one was injured, Davine’s office said. Residents were allowed to return to their homes, although Rosebud Avenue remained closed “for a short time” while emergency vehicles cleared the area.

The resident of the Rosebud Avenue address was found driving a Freightliner on Route 495 in Wrentham, and state police stopped the Freightliner and arrested the driver, the fire marshal’s office said. State police closed Route 495 and searched the Freightliner for any threats.