Bucks County Magisterial District Court 07-2-05, where alleged bomb-maker and serial explosions suspect David W. Surman Jr., 30, was arraigned before District Judge Lisa Gaier on a slew of charges Thursday afternoon.
Many residents of Upper Bucks County and particularly Milford Township will no doubt sleep more restfully tonight, following the arrest of a suspect in a serial explosions case that has been under investigation by local, state and federal authorities since the spring. And the arrest may have taken place just in time to prevent a bombing that could have hurt or killed an innocent person or innocent people, according to the district attorney.
A Google Maps Street View image of David W. Surman Jr.’s home in the 2400 block of Old Bethlehem Pike in Milford Township, Bucks County, where police investigators executed a search warrant and say they found a large bomb as well as bomb-making materials Thursday morning.
Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub announced the arrest of David W. Surman Jr., 30, of 2470 N. Old Bethlehem Pike in Milford Township at a hastily-arranged news conference at the Richland Township Police Department headquarters near Quakertown, shortly before Surman was arraigned on four second degree felony charges of unlawfully possessing or manufacturing weapons of mass destruction and other charges.
David Surman Jr., 30, of Milford Township (center) is led into District Court in Richland Township, Bucks County, Tuesday afternoon, to face Felony 2 charges of unlawfully possessing or manufacturing weapons of mass destruction and other charges amid a gaggle of TV and print media from the Philadelphia area, the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Members of the media shouted questions at him, but Surman remained silent as he was let into the courthouse by law enforcement officials.
The booking photo for David W. Surman Jr.
Surman, Weintraub said, was arrested after authorities executed multiple search warrants this morning at both his residence and a business he owns–Consolidated Chemical & Solvents–which is located at 2240 Spinnerstown Road in Milford Township.
“As a result of material that we seized and other evidence that we collected…we have charged David Surman Jr. with the following charges…weapons of mass destruction, which is the most serious offense,” Weintraub said, noting that he could receive a maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted of that charge. “He is charged with recklessly endangering other people, which is a misdemeanor, possession of offensive weapons, possession of instruments of crime, possession of a controlled substance–specifically methamphetamine which still needs to be sent to the lab for confirmation, but we have a visual confirmation–and possession of drug paraphernalia.”
Weintraub said authorities found multiple explosive devices in Surman’s home near Brick Tavern Road, including what he called a “large bomb capable of mass destruction.
“This sucker right here from stem to stern is over 18 inches in length,” Weintraub said, pointing to a photo of the “large” incendiary device authorities discovered Thursday. “It had four fuses all foiled together, and (it) was ready to be detonated.”
Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said this photo is of an 18-inch-long homemade bomb found in David W. Surman Jr.’s possession. The discovery of the device led to Surman being charged with Felony 2 possession or manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction, Weintraub said.
“A crime of violence has been alleged, but the perpetrator–this defendant, David Surman Jr., who is pictured right here–was captured before any harm was done to any person; before any lives were lost,” Weintraub noted.
Along with the large device several similar, smaller devices were found, as well as “many, many chemicals” capable of being used in the creation of bombs, he said. Those materials will be analyzed at the FBI’s laboratory in Quantico, Va., although some devices were detonated before being moved, Weintraub said.
Referring to Surman as the suspected “Mad Upper Bucks Bomber,” a person who is believed to have detonated dozens of devices across Milford, Springfield and other rural county townships since early April, Weintraub stressed that Surman has not been charged as of yet in any of those cases, but will be if forensic analysis ties him to them.
“We believe that the person who was making these bombs has been apprehended, but we ask the public to still be careful,” he said, before urging anyone who sees something they believe to be a bomb or anything suspicious to call 911 immediately. Anyone with a tip related to the explosions case is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, Option 4.
Weintraub did not speak directly to what Surman’s motive for allegedly building bombs may have been, but called examples of what authorities said is his artwork found in his house “graphic…musings” that may offer some insight into his mindset.
In one of the pieces of artwork, photographic cut-outs of Surman and a woman Weintraub said is meant to represent Surman’s girlfriend–with whom he resides–are seen in an SUV driving on a road. “OMFG you just blew shit EVERYWHERE!” the woman says in a talk bubble. “Oh man!” the man says as a bomb explodes in the background.
A graphic, collage-type piece of art Bucks County District Attorney attributed to alleged bomb-maker and serial explosions suspect David Surman Jr. was displayed at Thursday’s news conference about Surman’s arrest.
In another rendering Weintraub attributed to Surman, a swastika–a well-known hate symbol–a representation of a “gay devil” with the name “Mr. Dump Trump” and a gravestone with the words “RIP Freedom of Speech 2018” are depicted.
Authorities attribute this piece of artwork which contains a hate symbol to alleged Upper Bucks bomb-maker and serial explosion suspect David Surman Jr.
Weintraub said Surman’s girlfriend has not been charged with anything, and he declined to name her.
He also declined to discuss what specifically led authorities to Surman, other than to say that “around-the-clock” police work involving surveillance was the key to cracking the case.
“This day has been a long time in coming,” Weintraub noted. He praised the hard work of and “incredible cooperation” between numerous law enforcement agencies that he said led to the arrest. The agencies include Pennsylvania State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the FBI, the Montgomery County Bomb Squad, Richland Township Police Department, Bucks County Emergency Services, County of Bucks, Quakertown Borough Police Department, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Milford Township Fire Department, St. Luke’s EMS and Bucks County Emergency Services.
Following his arraignment before District Judge Lisa Gaier, Surman was committed to the Bucks County Correctional Center in lieu of 10 percent of $750,000 bail, which he was unable to post as of Thursday afternoon, according to court records.
Surman is next scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in Geyer’s Richland Township court on July 10 at 2 p.m., according to the records, which indicate that he is being represented by attorney William Joshua Buchanan of Doylestown.
Watch video filmed and broadcast live on Facebook at Thursday afternoon’s news conference, below.
