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Alexander S. Braverman, 24, of 41 Craig Court, was charged Tuesday with 15 counts of manufacturing bombs, and one count each of illegal possession of explosives and possession of illegal fireworks. His bond was set at $250,000.
Braverman had been arrested Feb. 7 after a several-weeks-long police investigation. The self-employed handyman was arrested a short distance away from his home near the border with Pound Ridge, N.Y.
On that day, Braverman was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, cultivation of marijuana, operating a drug factory, possession of large-capacity magazines and illegally altering pistol identification.
Stamford Police called in their bomb squad after the explosive devices were found, including two hand grenades.
On Tuesday evening in a post on their Facebook page, Stamford Police said Bomb Squad personnel quickly assessed the two pineapple-style hand grenades and determined the items were inert.
Diagnostics were conducted on the suspected improvised explosive device, and it was classified as a hoax device, police said. The hoax device consisted of three road flares taped together with an electronic circuit board, wires and a wrist watch attached to it, police said.
Related story: Police find cache of weapons, pot plants in bust at North Stamford home
Numerous items discovered in Braverman's bedroom indicated he was experimenting with explosives and IED manufacturing, police said. Binary explosive compounds, suspicious unknown explosive powders, plastic and cardboard cylindrical containers, ball bearings, electrical tape, electronic circuit kit and numerous other items were seized, police said.
During the search of Braverman’s closet, Bomb Squad personnel located a plastic bin containing 15 constructed small IEDs, police said. The IEDs were fabricated in several different methods and were all wrapped tightly with electrical tape, police said. Each had a fusing system and was ready for immediate deployment, police said.
In addition to the 15 IEDs, a substantial quantity of illegal explosives and illegal fireworks were seized from the bedroom, police said.
Stamford Police's Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit began an investigation in January into Braverman on suspicions that he had weapons and was cultivating marijuana, Capt. Richard Conklin said Feb. 8.
When officers arrived at the home Feb. 7, Braverman's parents were there and police had information that Braverman would be returning shortly. He soon arrived and officers detained him a distance away from the home and then walked him into the residence, police said.
"Strategically, we didn't want him to be able to access any of this horde of weapons that were there," Conklin said of the method of arrest.
Soon after they entered the home, officers discovered a room in the basement "that was a full-fledged marijuana cultivation room with lights and various different accoutrements to grow marijuana," Conklin said. There were seven marijuana plants in the room, he said, with some maturing while others were still in the growing stage.
Officers were also surprised to find "hundreds" of knives and other "edged" weapons in the home, he said.
"Throughout the house were all kinds of edged weapons: knives, swords, hatchets, axes, sharpened sticks," Conklin said. "They were just scattered. Next to chairs, virtually all over the place."
Officers also found a crossbow and replica muskets, police said.
Also, numerous shotguns, pistols and rifles were found, most of which were in a gun safe in Braveman's room, Conklin said. Police persuaded Braverman to unlock the safe, he said. Braverman has no permits to carry any weapons, he said.
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