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Ridgewood physician indicted in explosives case spent time in mental hospital

A Ridgewood physician found with explosive chemicals and firearms in his house was indicted this week by a grand jury in Hackensack, which revealed that he’d once spent time in a mental institution — and, as a result, was prohibited from owning or having guns.

Photo Credit: outside Rivera’s home: Boyd A. Loving
Photo Credit: Boyd A. Loving
Photo Credit: outside Rivera's home: Boyd A. Loving
Jerry DeMarco

Roberto Rivera, who turns 61 next month, remains held on $1 million bail in the Bergen County Jail.

He’s also had his license temporarily suspended by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners pending the outcome of the case.

CLIFFVIEW PILOT first reported exclusively that authorities feared domestic terrorism after Rivera confided to someone that he was concerned what effect a power outage from Hurricane Sandy would have on explosive chemicals he’d allegedly been refrigerating, according to a law enforcement source.

PHOTO: Boyd A. Loving

SEE: Domestic terrorism feared in Ridgewood explosives raid

That’s what drew various agents (photo, right) from the FBI, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Police Bomb Squad and Hazardous Materials Team, Ridgewood police and Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Identification to the Union Street two-family home, where Rivera lived in a converted basement.

During a Nov. 16 raid of his home, they reported finding:

  • a basement freezer containing 2.5 liters of nitric acid, which can be used to create explosive devices;
  • attic containers that included hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, sulfuric acid, calcium hypochlorite, and potassium perchlorate, which can also be used to create bombs;
  • 10 pounds of thermite, and 10 thermite lighters, which can be used to detonate bombs;
  • several weapons, including two Cobray M11 assault pistols and a .40-caliber handgun, which weren’t registered and he wasn’t allowed to have;
  • a Hellfire trigger mechanism that can allow a firearm to fire at an extremely high rate;
  • several high-capacity magazines; a stun gun;
  • assorted boxes of ammunition and other firearms and items.

New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said the search also turned up  folders marked “Revolution” and “Anarchism,” which they said included documents on how to create homemade explosives, a military improvised munitions manual, and documents on how to convert firearms into fully-automatic machine guns.

PHOTO outside Rivera’s home: Boyd A. Loving

Also reported found: a canister of mace, a wig, fake sideburns, and other items, state authorities said.

Chiesa said Rivera’s behavior “demonstrates an extreme lack of judgment and a complete disregard for the safety of others.”

Although he didn’t maintain a medical office here, Rivera was licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey, state authorities said.

He also occasionally lived and worked out of his vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Xterra, from which he provided medical examinations on Long Island, Ridgewood police said at the time.

The car contained bottles of medication, medical equipment, and prescription pads bearing Rivera’s name and New York license number, they said.

ALSO SEE: Ridgewood physician in explosives case goes before judge

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