Another Reading Bomb Scare Leads To Arrest

READING, MA — A Malden man got off a commuter train in Reading, left a package in front of Ristorante Pavarotti, and started a chain reaction that led to the town's second bomb scare in the past four months. But like the May event, there was no explosive device. This time it was tin foil, tomato cans, and some clothing that brought the state police bomb squad to town.

"This afternoon at approximately 12:22 p.m. we had a call that a suspicious package was dropped off in front of 603 Main Street (the package was in front of 601)," said Reading Police Chief Mark Segalla. "A woman had called and said she saw a gentleman wearing a backpack, drop the package and head quickly down Haven Street, toward the depot area. One of our officers went to the package, the other officer found the individual walking down Haven Street.

"The officer could see clothing in it (the package), and it felt like something hard and metal inside the package. At that time he backed off. The fire department was notified. The state police, the FBI came as well, the ATF. The individual on Haven Street was placed under arrest with two outstanding warrants."

The individual was later identified as 46-year-old Russell Kirby of Malden. He was arrested on warrants out of Malden and Chelsea District Courts on charges of shoplifting (three counts), larceny over $250, and assault and battery on a public employee. He was not charged in connection with the suspicious package.

Following discovery of the package, police immediately evacuated Reading Square and blocked streets leading into the center of town. The package was not 100 yards from the Reading Police Station. Police and fire officials cleared buildings on Main Street that house Bank of America and Agganis Driving Schools. Students at the driving school were escorted out the back entrance.

Eventually the package was x-rayed by the state police according to Segalla but there wasn't "any kind of explosive in the package whatsoever."

As for Kirby, police aren't sure what he was doing.

"He went back and forth with his stories about three or four times," said Segalla. "The first saying someone else dropped it off, second saying he threw it away, and finally admitting to where he left the package. Again, we don't know why he left it there."

The all-clear was given in downtown just before 3 p.m.

Former Reading athletic director Phil Vaccaro, who owns the building that houses the restaurant, told Patch the restaurant opens late and the owner frequently has packages dropped off there. But it appears the restaurant and the man in custody had no connection.

This photo shows the package in question. It was to the right of the stone pillar, leaning against Ristorante Pavarotti. The restaurant is at 601 Main Street.

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In May there was another bomb scare, this one off Summer Ave., but police determined it was not a bomb.

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Photos from Reading Patch reporter Bob Holmes and Reading Patch fan Chase Kyes.