We end the month of February this year with a story about a watcher who should have been watched. It concerns Gardner’s 23-year-old Jesse Holland (hereinafter, the “Defendant”). It also deals with the issue of Massachusetts search and seizure.
The Defendant is an involuntary guest of the Commonwealth this evening. He is being held without bail as the local prosecutors charge that he is too much of a threat to be let out of custody.
The Defendant works (or worked, at least) as a security guard at Waltham High School. He stands charged with possessing chemicals that could be used to make an explosive.. Law enforcement says that he stole these chemicals from the high school. The materials include iron powder, aluminum powder and magnesium metal ribbon.
Mixed together in the right way, apparently, a rather strong bomb can be made.
The Defendant was arrested on Wednesday morning in a Leominster store parking lot. Police say that, when they noticed him, he acted suspiciously as he was downloading a movie. Somehow, noticing him “act suspiciously” led to the search of his vehicle. During the search, officers say they found the chemicals, a hatchet and a stun gun.
Apparently, the Defendant was also give to making inculpatory statements to the officers. They say that he told them that he intended to throw the chemicals into a fire to “see what would happen.”
In the video I watched online, I saw one of the officers indicating that he did not see the Defendant as someone who wanted to hurt anyone.
Apparently, the prosecutors did not share that view at arraignment.
Attorney Sam’s Take On “What Could Have Happened”
It is important to realize the type of explosive we are talking about here. It is not of the atomic or nuclear variety. It will not blow up the neighborhood. However, as one can see on the video on the news, one can certainly cause damage and serious personal injury.
Continue reading