Gun Shots At Park Lead Cops To 'Boom Bitch' ​Bombs: Court Docs

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester police officers were patrolling the area of Bartlett and Sullivan streets when they heard “the distinct sound of gunshots coming from the north of their location,” on May 13.

The officers notified dispatch and other units responded to the area, and it was determined the gunshots appeared to be coming from the area Rock Rimmon Park on Mason Street.

Officers located a Chevy Cobalt in the parking lot of Rock Rimmon Park. The vehicle was occupied by two males — one identified in court documents as Justin Cole, 32, of Charter Street in Exeter and-or Calef Road in Manchester. Officers made contact with the men in the car and noticed that Cole was in possession of live ammunition on his right hip. The live ammunition was in a black double push holster.

Cole admitted to the officer, “he was holding onto the ammunition on his for his friend who was at the scene,” a report stated. Cole said his friend was in possession of the revolver and that he was only holding onto the ammunition, an affidavit noted.

The officer confirmed through dispatch Cole was currently on probation for a domestic criminal threat involving a firearm charge. Based on probation, which was still in effect, Cole is prohibited from possessing or buying firearms or ammunition. Cole was asked where the revolver was and he admitted to the officer it was under the front seat of his vehicle along with a BB gun, an affidavit said. The vehicle was owned by Cole, who refused to allow officers at the scene to search the vehicle, a report stated.

The vehicle was secured and impounded while police applied for a search warrant. Cole was ordered by probation and parole to be held on a 72-hour-hold.

On May 25, officers executed a signed search warrant at Manchester Police Headquarters in a secure parking lot. As the vehicle was searched, "a quart-sized mason jar with a silver cap that was stuffed with what appeared to be two rags and a viscous liquid that had a yellowish color for the top half and a separated reddish color on the bottom. The top of the containers leaking a yellow liquid and it gave off a moderately strong ether smell and had the consistency of oil,” according to a report.

The item was removed and taken away from the area of the vehicle.

Officers allegedly found a similar item in the front passenger compartment that was in a smaller, darker colored half pint-sized mason jar "that was similarly stuffed with a cloth or fabric material and filled with liquid.” Police said the bottom of the jar had “Boom Bitch” written in marker, according to a report.

After further examination of the glass containers, it became apparent that they were potentially what is referred to as a "Molotov Cocktail” or another incendiary or improvised explosive device. As officers began to search the back seat of the vehicle, they noted in a report that a wide variety of motor oil, solvents, cleaning materials, accelerants, and other combustible or incendiary items.

A court affidavit stated. “for a matter of safety, the search was ended and deemed that that warrant be refreshed to expand the scope of the search at a later date.”

On June 2, a search warrant signed by Judge William Delker was executed with the assistance of the New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad.

In addition to the other items found in the passenger compartment of the car, several items of concern were found in the trunk, the report said. Two additional “infernal machines or peroxide explosives as well as “rock salt that appeared soaked in some sort of solution.” In the same area a green wire cord that had a loop fastened on one end and a large power source in the form of a large car battery, an affidavit stated.

Officers also located a green plastic ammo box marked with the words “Boom Box” in sharpie. NHSP also located other sets of explosive materials that would be highly flammable and dangerous.

Heather Hamel, a spokesperson for the department, said on June 11 arrest warrants were prepared for Cole and he was charged with four counts of possession of an infernal machine and one count of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon. Cole is being held on preventative detention at this time.

Due to the severity of the evidence, the ATF was contacted and they agreed to adopt the case federally. The investigation remains open and active and may lead to additional charges in the future.