PELHAM, New Hampshire USA — Paul Robinson knows explosives.

So when a suspicious device turned up on his kitchen table, 24 hours after his eviction, the bomb squad turned out in full force.

"There were some verbal threats made," said Donald Ronning, Robinson's landlord.

A member of the New Hampshire State Police bomb squad leaves after checking a suspicious device found inside the house at 5 Old Bridge Street South in Pelham yesterday morning. Police last night were seeking the tenant, Paul Robinson, 56, who once owned the property. Photo: Lowell Sun / David Brow.

Then, early yesterday morning, a contractor went inside and "saw something that didn't look right," Ronning said.

A long cylinder, capped at both ends, covered with stickers.

By 8:30 a.m., police had the ramshackle farmhouse at 5 Old Bridge Street South surrounded. Robinson, 56, was nowhere to be found.

At 10 a.m. an armored truck pulled up. The state police bomb squad.

Covered from head to toe in a green suit, an officer outfitted like an astronaut entered the house through a side door.

By 11 a.m., the bomb squad deemed the object "non-explosive."

For the most part, neighbors say they don't really know Robinson. He keeps to himself.

"He walked across the street one day to look at something," said Ron Therriault, co-owner of Acres Edge landscaping across the road. "He told me he had his pyrotechnics license and he tested the thrust of rockets. That's about it."
 
Sometimes smoke billowed off the property. Drivers would pull out cell phones and call the Fire Department. It was just Robinson burning refuse.

"All non-issues," said Fire Chief Michael Walker. "He had all the proper permits."

It was common knowledge Robinson built rockets in his garage. He was federally licensed, Walker added.

Ronning, owner of Sun Bridge Professional Center, bought the property from Robinson about five years ago. The developer plans to demolish the dilapidated house and garage to make way for a strip mall. But demolition was on hold until Robinson vacated the premises, he said.

Robinson was forced to leave the house Tuesday.

Police Chief Joseph Roark said an ongoing "adversarial relationship" between Ronning and Robinson prompted concern.

He knew the discovery of the device yesterday was a case for the bomb squad.

"It seemed, in all laymen's terms, what a bomb would look like," said Police Chief Joseph Roark. "We didn't want to take any chances."

It was hauled off to a Concord crime lab for further testing to determine whether it contained any flammable or toxic substances, Roark said.

As of late yesterday afternoon, Roark said police still did not know whether there was criminal intent, but a criminal investigation is open. Police were still looking to find and question Robinson.

Copyright © 2007, Lowell Sun.