Couple arrested for dynamite, marijuana plants, rifles, handguns and bomb-making equipment. Makes you wonder what their hobby was.
April 1, 2008 - Nicholas Borrelli, 62, a Bishop Canevin High School math teacher, and his wife Linda, 45, were both arrested after a medical emergency alert brought authorities to their house where they found marijuana, bomb-making equipment, weapons and dynamite.
Munhall police say it took them from Friday afternoon until 2 a.m. Saturday to remove dozens of boxes of rifles, handguns and bomb-making equipment from the couple's home. The Allegheny County bomb squad helped remove the dynamite and other bomb-related materials.The couple was charged with risking a catastrophe, possession with intent to deliver drugs and possession of weapons of mass destruction after their arrest Friday, according to Munhall police Chief Patrick Campbell.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (March 30) describes the scene:
After entering the building, officers noticed "an overwhelming odor of marijuana," states the affidavit of probable cause filed to support criminal charges. Upon searching further, officers discovered "hanging dried marijuana, potted marijuana plants, along with paraphernalia throughout" the house . . .SEARCH April 4 - Fire and Hazmat crews searched Borrelli's cabinet at school and found chemicals, the sort typically found a high school chemistry lab, but Borrelli taught math and should not have had them.
After obtaining a search warrant, officers found "various improvised explosive devices (several thousand), materials needed in making improvised explosive devices, suspected marijuana, materials needed in growing marijuana, marijuana plants in pots, scales, several firearms (long guns and handguns), ammunitions," the affidavit states.
PRELIMINARY June 18 - A judge ordered there was sufficient evidence for Borrelli and his wife to stand trial in August. (See video at right of the story.)
