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Paul C. Traficante, 33, pleaded not guilty to charges of improper storage of a firearm and possession of a large-capacity feeding device, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said on Tuesday, April 18. He was out on a $250 bail, the prosecutor said.
South Hadley police, firefighters, and several other agencies were part of an emergency response around 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Riverboat Village after authorities discovered propane tanks, hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid, and potassium nitrate at Traficante's apartment, the prosecutor said.
The chemicals are legal to own but are potentially dangerous. Investigators ruled that Traficante wasn't doing anything illegal with the items, officials said. But they did confiscate them and destroy them offsite, media reports added.
It's unclear why he had the noxious chemicals at his home.
As part of his bail, Traficante can't "possess any set up that could be construed as a chemistry lab or a place to conduct scientific tests or manufacture chemicals," DA said.
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