Swampscott teen charged for 2 bomb incidents

SWAMPSCOTT – A Swampscott teen has been charged with two felonies in connection with two different incidents involving explosive devices.Detective Ted Delano said the 13-year-old was charged with throwing and placing an explosive device in connection with an incident April 26 and possessing an explosive device in connection with an incident on May 1.The juvenile, who neighbors identified as Joel Surette, has been summoned to Lynn Juvenile Court to answer the charges.Delano said the explosion on April 26 was audible and set off car alarms in the Melvin Avenue area, but did not cause any damage. Surette was not as lucky on May 1, when the improvised explosive device he allegedly made blew up in his hand causing permanent damage.On May 1, police received a 911 call reporting an explosion with injuries at the Bernard Surette residence at 92 Melvin Ave.According to Delano, the 13-year-old took powder from caps used in cap guns and powder from snap poppers, which he combined to make an improvised explosive device in a cardboard tube and then secured with tape.Delano said Swampscott Police were assisted in the investigation by Trooper Paul Horgan, who is with the Massachusetts State Police Hazardous Device Unit and State Fire Marshall’s Office.Delano said police spent almost two hours collecting evidence in the home and from trash cans outside the residence.”Investigators secured evidence from the house,” he said.Delano said the pop snappers, small devices that explode when thrown onto a hard surface, are illegal and police have checked with the stores in town to make sure pop snappers are not being sold locally.”Not only are these devices against the law, they are very dangerous,” Delano said. “Thank God this young boy is still with us but obviously these devices are very dangerous and a child can get severely injured as evidenced by his injuries. This is an important lesson for other kids in the community to learn.”Delano said the incident is still under investigation.