A Boston police officer was arrested and charged after his wife called police to report that she found military-grade explosives, grenades, and ammunition in their home.<\/p>\n
\n Police Officer Kirk D. Merricks, 43, is now facing 11 counts of
\n possession of an explosive device, four counts of obtaining
\n stolen property and one count of illegal possession of
\n ammunition. A bomb squad was called in to remove the explosives
\n from the residence on the night of July 11.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe requested the assistance of the Mass State Police Bomb
\n Squad, as well as the [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
\n Explosives], and we sought a search warrant after we secured
\n those devices that we did locate\u2013some were in the house and some
\n were in a shed in the backyard,\u201d<\/i> Plymouth Chief Michael
\n Botieri told WATV.\n<\/p>\n
\n A police report states that Merricks\u2019 wife and son discovered the \n A black briefcase contained four 40 mm grenades that are normally \n Officers also found a detonation cord, blasting caps, and \n Chief Botieri told reporters that investigators believe the items \n \u201cThey are obviously not anything that civilians should \n Merricks was on duty while his home was being searched, and was \n After pleading not guilty to his charges on Friday<\/span> \n Botieri is a 14-year veteran of the Boston Police Department who \n Eric Goldman, the attorney representing Merrick, said his client \n Police have launched an investigation into the incident.\n<\/p>\n
\n explosives when they were going through the officer\u2019s belongings.
\n After calling Plymouth police around 3 p.m.
\n Thursday<\/span>, the officer\u2019s wife led them to a shed containing
\n military-grade explosives. A metal box contained four explosive
\n sticks wrapped in military-style cloth and marked as \u201dTNT\u201d.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n used with an M203 grenade launcher \u2014 a device that the US
\n military introduced in the early 1970s. M203 grenade launchers
\n are categorized as \u201cDestructive Devices\u201d under the National
\n Firearms Act and are rarely available on the civilian weapons
\n market.\n<\/p>\n
\n military-grade ammunition.\n<\/p>\n
\n were stolen, since they are generally not available for civilian
\n purchase. Although Merricks is licensed to carry firearms, none
\n of the explosives or military-grade ammunition were issued to him
\n by police.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n possess,<\/i>\u201d Botieri told the Boston Globe. \u201cWe believe it\u2019s
\n all stolen. It\u2019s not something you can go out and buy without the
\n correct permits.\u201d<\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\n arrested shortly thereafter. He has been placed on paid
\n administrative leave and stripped of his handgun and badge.\n<\/p>\n
\n morning, he was freed on $1,000 bail.\n<\/p>\n
\n previously served with the Marine Corps during Desert Storm.
\n Police were called to his home during a domestic dispute last
\n month. Merricks\u2019 wife says the couple separated on
\n June 4<\/span>, when she filed a restraining order against
\n him, accusing him of verbal abuse.\n<\/p>\n
\n had not been living in the house for three months, and suggested
\n that the \u201ccontentious\u201d divorce proceedings may have something to
\n do with the woman\u2019s call to police. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n