MANSFIELD, MA — A 61-year-old Mansfield man has been taken into custody after local police uncovered a massive stockpile of weapons, ammunition and explosives at his residence on Church Street, authorities announced Thursday. In a statement released via their Facebook page, the Mansfield Police Department revealed the arrest followed two default warrants from the Attleboro District Court related to offenses in Mansfield and Norton.
Upon developing probable cause, detectives were able to secure a search warrant for the property located at 142 Church Street. Wednesday's raid yielded a surprising cache: authorities recovered 23 firearms, including large-capacity weapons, more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, devices for high-capacity feeding, and items that could be used to make improvised explosives. In response to further information gathered, officials conducted an additional thorough search of the property's grounds on Thursday, enlisting the help from State and Federal partners, including ATF and the State Police Bomb Squad.
The seized arsenal led to the suspect facing a slate of new charges including improper storage of a firearm, possession of explosives, and fireworks, as well as possession of a large-capacity firearm without the necessary Firearms Identification (FID) card. Specifics regarding the charges are being laid out prior to his arraignment in Attleboro District Court as the suspect remains held on the original warrants.
Law enforcement has extended thanks to its partners for their assistance during the operation. The Church Street community has also been acknowledged for their patience as the investigation has, even now, continued to unfold and gradually disrupt their lives. While the name of the accused is currently withheld, pending his court appearance, the case is being closely monitored, with updates expected to be forthcoming about a situation that has surely to have rocked this otherwise peaceful town.
