MILFORD, Maine — Law enforcement officials say multiple people, including children, were rescued Monday after a man allegedly threatened to blow up a home in Milford.
Old Town police responded to Call Road shortly before 1 a.m. Monday for a report that man had assaulted a woman and threatened to blow up a home. They located the woman involved, who confirmed the other witness's information, according to the release.
Police encountered the suspect, identified as 46-year-old William Abernathy of Milford, outside the residence, where found he was carrying a large knife in a sheath in his hand, according to the sheriff's office.
He also admitted to carrying several other weapons and complied with officers initially by dropping a bag and the weapons, officials said.
The sheriff's office and Maine State Police then arrived and dealt with Abernathy while Old Town police officers went to ensure the safety of the other occupants of the house.
When officers entered the house, they confirmed the presence of gas within the residence and could hear someone asking for help from an upstairs bedroom. After two attempts, officers broke through a locked bedroom door and removed three children who were inside before returning to remove another person who needed help getting out of the home, the release stated.
A team of investigators from the fire marshal’s office and the Maine State Police Bomb Team responded to the property and found evidence of explosive device manufacturing, including numerous homemade devices.
The homemade devices were rendered safe by the Maine State Police Bomb Team, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said Monday in a news release.
Abernathy has been charged with the following, according to a release from the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office:
- Domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon
- Domestic violence terrorizing with a dangerous weapon
- Domestic violence assault
- Domestic violence terrorizing
- Criminal restraint
- Three counts of endangering the welfare of a child
State police and the sheriff's office said more charges are expected.