Man held after pipe bombs found in cellar

EAST BRIDGEWATER - An East Bridgewater man was arrested last night after police found multiple pipe bombs in the basement of his East Street house, authorities said.

Michael Ambrose faces charges of possessing explosive devices, which East Bridgewater police were still removing from the home late last night, police Chief John Cowan said.

Ambrose will be arraigned today.

Police obtained a search warrant for Ambrose's house after a man called in a tip to the station earlier yesterday afternoon, Cowan said.

Cowan said police executed the warrant after talking to Ambrose.

Last night, police had marked off a 250-foot perimeter around the house and evacuated the three nearest homes.

"We don't know how strong they are, because we don't know what is in them," Cowan said of the explosives.

Cowan said he expected that the police and fire departments, the bomb squad, and the state fire marshal would remain on the scene into early this morning, removing the explosives from the residence and detonating them. Police had arrived at the house at about 6 p.m.

Cowan declined to say how many bombs were found.

Neighbors said they did not know Ambrose well.

"I know he keeps a nice yard," Arthur Illsley, 52, said.

Neighbors said they were shocked by all of the police and fire vehicles on their usually quiet street. Illsley's son snapped photos of the flashing police car lights and the television vans parked nearby.

"East Bridgewater is incredibly quiet and peaceful," said Terri Tobin-Young, 50. "We still have cows and stuff."