Lowell police find pipe bomb in drug raid

By Matt Collette, Globe Correspondent

Lowell Police searching a house for drugs at about 1 p.m. today made an unexpected find: a pipe bomb.

Police evacuated the School Street building and called the bomb squad, said Lt. Mark Buckley.

The experts extracted the device from the home of 40-year-old Ernesto Ortiz. Authorities determined it was, in fact, a live bomb and detonated it.

Ortiz was arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute Class A, B, and C drugs; unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition, and stolen property; and possession of a bomb.

He is to be arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court.

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