BELCHERTOWN — Three men are being summoned to appear in Eastern Hampshire District Court in connection to “several large explosions” that occurred last month. Their names are not being released by police.
A 29-year-old Belchertown man and a 20-year-old Ware man are being summoned on three counts of placing an explosive device and disorderly conduct, while a 23-year-old Belchertown man is summoned on two counts of placing an explosive device and disorderly conduct.
On Monday, Sept. 10 at around 4:45 p.m., police responded to multiple reports of loud explosions in the vicinity of Federal Street and Daniel Shays Highway. The explosions were reportedly heard throughout town.
Belchertown Police said in a statement that the individuals involved did not intend to harm the general public, but that “their actions caused great alarm to the community by exploding three home-made devices.”
No serious injuries occurred, although one involved-person suffered minor injuries, according to the statement. The explosions took place at the site of a Sargent Street business.
No identities will be released prior to court arraignment, in accordance with Massachusetts law, police said.
In the days following the incident, Julianne Moreau of Belchertown recalled hearing one explosion from her nearby apartment.
“It was a loud boom… It sounded like someone threw a bomb or something,” Moreau said.
“It didn’t sound like a car crash or a transformer,” she continued. “You could feel the earth shaking.”
But not everyone noticed the explosions; Jenn Dwinnell, who was working at the Pizza Hut near the intersection when the explosions occurred, and Samantha Santor, general manager at the McDonald’s on nearby Main Street, said that they did not hear anything despite being close to the intersection.
The department investigated the incident with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office and state police.