NORTH ANDOVER – Authorities seized homemade explosives, more than 30 guns, and large-capacity ammunition feeders from the residence of Daniel Medina, 64, of 59 Village Green Drive in North Andover yesterday, leading to five felony and three misdemeanor charges in Lawrence District Court today, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker and North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray announced. Authorities executed the warrant after the defendant allegedly set off an explosive device that damaged two vehicles and later returned, apparently to try to conceal the damage with spray paint. Authorities found many of the guns did not contain a serial number; Medina’s license to carry weapons expired in the year 2000. The North Andover Police Department, North Andover Fire Department, Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad and Crime Scene Services units, the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Joint Hazard Incident Response Team, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), responded, joined by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Lawrence General Hospital Advanced Life Support Paramedics.
“We are thankful for the hard work of the officers and assisting agencies involved in this case,” says North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray. “We also appreciate the citizens of North Andover who, despite inconveniences, allowed this investigation to take place without interruption.”
In Lawrence District Court today, Medina 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 and will be held without bail until he is scheduled to return to court for a dangerousness hearing on Friday, July 12.
“Anyone who is under the impression that they will not face consequences for illegally stockpiling weapons without a license is absolutely wrong,” says Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker. “We will continue to prosecute in such cases in order to keep our communities safe.”
