Joseph Solomon, Chief of Police
Quinn Public Safety Building
90 Hampshire St.
Methuen, MA 01844
For Immediate Release
Monday, June 19, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Methuen Police Arrest Man Who Made Bomb Threat At Area Hospital
METHUEN — Mayor Stephen Zanni and Chief Joseph Solomon report that a man was arrested early Monday for making a bomb threat at Holy Family Hospital.
JAMES TIRADO, 41, of LAWRENCE was arrested and charged with:
- Communicating a Bomb Scare
- Possession of a Class E Substance
At 1:08 a.m., the Methuen Police and Fire Departments responded to the emergency room lobby at Holy Family Hospital, 70 East St., after TIRADO approached a hospital employee and claimed to have a bomb vest.
Upon arrival, officers located TIRADO in the parking lot and found two backpacks and a small suitcase in the area outside the emergency room entrance. As a result of the bags’ placement and TIRADO’s statement, the Methuen Police Explosives Detection K-9 and the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Unit responded and determined that none of the bags contained explosives.
“This was a great example of collaboration between law enforcement agencies,” Mayor Zanni said. “I commend everyone involved for their determined efforts to keep everyone safe.”
“I am proud of the swift and professional work by our officers to bring this situation to a peaceful end,” Chief Solomon said. “We take these threats very seriously, and want to reassure everyone that the hospital is safe and that there is no threat to the community.”
Upon searching TIRADO, officers located multiple doses of prescription drugs Gabapentin and Burpropion.
The emergency room was secured during the incident and patients were temporarily routed to other hospital entrances.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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