Southbridge police say a midweek search warrant on Woodland Street ended with a local man in custody and a house full of weapons and explosives boxed up as evidence. Officers report they removed the resident from the home, searched the property and found several firearms, high-capacity magazines, a substantial amount of ammunition and what they described as grenade-style explosive devices. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and later transported for arraignment, according to police.
What police say they found
Members of the Southbridge Police Department, working with detectives from Millbury and Holden and the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, executed the warrant and say they recovered a Glock 19 with three loaded magazines; an untraceable AR-15-style rifle with no serial number and an 11.5-inch barrel; a pump-action shotgun; two 30-round magazines; a substantial quantity of .223, 9mm and 12-gauge ammunition; multiple grenade-style explosive devices; and a suspected amount of MDMA. Police said several firearms were not stored in compliance with state law and that a records check showed the homeowner did not hold a valid License to Carry or Firearm Identification card, as reported by Boston 25 News.
State rules on firearms
Massachusetts requires at least a Firearms Identification (FID) card for most rifles and shotguns and a License to Carry (LTC) to possess handguns or certain restricted weapons. The state also restricts large-capacity feeding devices and requires registration for privately made or untraceable firearms, according to Mass.gov. The State Police Bomb Squad and the Fire & Explosion Investigation Section provide statewide response and technical support for explosive hazards and evidence recovery, Mass.gov explains.
Charges and arraignment
Police identified the suspect as Kenneth Bachand and say he was charged with multiple firearms-related offenses. The charges include three counts of possession of a firearm without a license; possession of ammunition without an FID card; two counts of possession of a large-capacity firearm; possession of a large-capacity feeding device; possession of a firearm without a serial number; and improper storage of a firearm. According to police, he was booked and processed at Southbridge Police headquarters and later transported to Dudley District Court for arraignment, as reported by Boston 25 News.
Local context
The raid comes amid other recent weapons and explosives investigations in the region. A 2024 probe into destructive devices led to charges in Sturbridge and nearby towns, as reported by Boston.com. Local police also made a separate seizure in January when they recovered an alleged sawed-off shotgun in Southbridge, Western Mass News reported.
What’s next
Bachand is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the case will move through the local courts as prosecutors review the evidence. Future hearings and filings will appear on the dockets at Dudley District Court while the district attorney determines whether to pursue any additional charges.
