Two arrested in Lynn for pipe bombs

LYNN – Two men were arraigned Monday for possession of several pipe bombs that were detonated on Hollingsworth Street and Beyer Place on Friday and Saturday, respectively, according to authorities.Michael J. Balboni, 38, of 27 Beyer Place #3, Lynn and Anthony J. Gillette, 23, of 21 Kelly Lane, Lynn, were arrested and charged with possession of an infernal device and unlawful possession of ammunition.Police were trying to carry out an arrest warrant for Gillette when they obtained information that he was inside Balboni’s home around 10 a.m. Saturday.When police arrived, several minutes went by before Gillette was apprehended, according to police. During that time, someone apparently threw an explosive device out the window.The device turned out to be a pipe bomb and the State Police bomb squad was called in to safely detonate the device. The home was located a few feet away from the Brickett Elementary School.According to police, four pipe bombs were found in the basement of 69B Hollingsworth St. on Friday night.The landlord of the home called police after he found two pipe bombs and two rifles that were left behind by an evicted tenant, police said.The bomb squad safely detonated the pipe bombs inside the home. After the bombs went off, investigators discovered two more pipe bombs in the basement, authorities said.According to police, a couple had lived in the apartment for the past seven months. At some point during that time period, the boyfriend was arrested and placed in the Middleton House of Corrections.The Essex Sheriff’s Department interviewed the inmate, who said he allowed Balboni to store the explosives in his home and Balboni gave him a quantity of heroin for payment.Lynn District Court Judge Stacey Fortes-White ordered both Balboni and Gillette held without bail pending a 58A dangerousness hearing on Thursday.Balboni had his bail revoked from a drug distribution case pending in Peabody District Court. He is due in Peabody court on June 6 for that matter.