BRIDGEWATER - Bob Lowder heard what he thought were gunshots outside his Grange Court home early Sunday morning - then he looked outside. It wasn't gunfire.
Three homemade explosive devices had been thrown onto Lowder's front lawn, and two had just exploded, he said.
"I looked out the window.
I see something explode and a huge cloud of gas go off. I'm like, 'Wow,' "Lowder said. "I ran downstairs and called the police."
"Honest to God, it's crazy," he said, shortly before showing The Enterprise the damage to his front lawn, which included burnt grass and a charred sidewalk, on Sunday afternoon.
State and local authorities are investigating after the state police bomb squad responded to Lowder's home about 4 a.m. Sunday to diffuse the third homemade explosive device, which had not exploded on its own, said Fire Capt. Raymond Wilcox.
Two of the devices exploded before emergency crews arrived; the third device - a soda bottle filled with a combination of chemicals - was detonated by the state police bomb squad, Wilcox said.
Lowder said he picked up the third explosive device, which had been placed just 10 feet from his yellow Colonial home. But he put it back down immediately after seeing it still had fluid in it. He then called police.
No injuries were reported and no arrests had been made as of 6 p.m. Sunday.
A neighborhood dispute may have led to someone placing the three homemade explosive devices onto Lowder's lawn, Wilcox said.
Lowder said he believes the perpetrator is a neighbor who has been repeatedly targeting his family for the past couple years.
"I've got bombs going off in my front yard. We hear him saying, 'Ha ha ha. Hey, neighbors,' "Lowder said.
Another neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said Sunday the problems started after one neighbor became upset when Lowder "cut some of his property line."
"They've been retaliating ever since," she said.
Lowder said he started having problems after cleaning up some trees, hedges and branches in his backyard a few years ago.
"Since then, it's been crazy," he said.
Emergency crews responded to Grange Court after receiving a 911 call reporting that someone had thrown the explosive devices onto the lawn at 4:06 a.m. Crews cleared the scene at about 6 a.m.
Wilcox warned of the dangers of homemade explosive devices.
"They will take your hands off when they explode," Wilcox said.
Bridgewater and state police are investigating.
Maria Papadopoulos may be reached at [email protected]
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