Police find pipe bomb in Milo drug raid

MILO – Police weren’t expecting an explosive situation when they went to issue another summons to a Milo man for marijuana cultivation Friday night. While issuing the summons they encountered a small pipe bomb.

Nathan A. Pearl, 25, was issued a summons a month ago on a misdemeanor charge of marijuana cultivation. According to Milo police Chief Michael Poulin, the charge has been increased from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Officer David Henderson went to Pearl’s current residence at 60 Main St. to issue the new summons. Pearl’s bail bond states he is not supposed to possess alcohol or illegal drugs and can be tested for those substances by police at any time. After a drug test Friday, police said Pearl’s urine sample tested positive for methamphetamine and at that time Officer Henderson called Poulin to the scene.

In addition to finding drugs and drug paraphernalia, Poulin said, the police found what was identified as a small pipe bomb. Trooper Shawn Whalen of the Maine State Police bomb squad was called in to defuse the bomb.

According to Poulin, this was the Milo Police Department’s seventh drug raid since June 5.