City Man Indicted in Boarding House Bomb Scare

A former Portsmouth man who set off a bomb scare at the Brewster Street Boarding House last summer when he placed what appeared to be an explosive in the hallway has been indicted by a Rockingham County Grand Jury.

Nicholas R. Durling, 30, formerly of 21 Brewster St., was indicted for a felony of placement of simulated explosives, according to court documents. If convicted, Durling could be sentenced to State Prison for 7 1/2 to 15 years.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, but means that the grand jury found enough probable cause from the evidence to warrant a jury trial that will take place in Rockingham County Superior Court.

in the hallway outside of his apartment on Aug. 5 sometime after midnight. Police said the device was smoking and when police officers spoke to Durling through his apartment front door, his comments led to the evacuation of the building and immediate neighborhood while the NH State Police Bomb Squad and members of the Seacoast Emergency Response Team secured the area.