30 Blasts, Then A WMD: Unraveling The Bucks Co. Explosions Saga

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The explosions began in early April.

They were loud, residents said. So loud they would shake walls and furniture. One woman, home with her children during the most recent blast, said it made a bookshelf topple over. Some left craters as large as four feet wide. Usually they happened overnight, in the hours leading up to dawn.

Theories swirled. A sense of unrest settled into this rural pocket of Bucks County.

Residents in areas like Milford Township, Richland Township, Quakertown, and Nockamixin Township awaited the next one. Would it be in the middle of the night, like the last one? And, more importantly, would anyone get hurt?

The answer to that question, nearly three months later, is thankfully no.

While we can answer that question, there are many more that, like the explosions that preceded them, remain a mystery.

Early morning raid nets suspect — and WMD in rural Pennsylvania community

After approximately 30 explosions, which began April 1 and extended through June 14, 30-year-old David W. Surman Jr. was arrested early Thursday morning.

The arrest followed an extensive investigation by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, the ATF, and Bucks County Detectives that led authorities to an 18-inch "weapon of mass destruction" at his Mildford Township property, the District Attorney announced Thursday.

Officials raided his properties on North Old Bethlehem Pike and Spinnerstown Road before dawn. Roads were closed and neighbors were abuzz about what was going on.

By the afternoon it was clear: In addition to the WMD, multiple other explosives were found, as well as "many, many" chemicals for bomb making, said Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub. Suspected methamphetamine as well as 10 firearms were also located at the sites, prosecutors said.

Weintraub, in a Thursday afternoon press conference, praised the collaboration of law enforcement agencies in locating Surman before anyone was hurt.

As of now, Surman is charged only in connection with the materials found on his properties Thursday, not with anything related to the rash of explosions. Charges include four felony counts of unlawful possession or manufacture of a weapon of mass destruction, and misdemeanor counts of drug possession and weapons charges, among others.

However, the seized materials will be sent to FBI labs in Quantico, Va., Weintraub said. Officials say they hope a forensic analysis will match them to evidence collected at the detonation sites.

Weintraub said that Surman was identified as a suspect in the explosions after "around-the-clock" surveillance by investigators. Seven detonation sites were found in close proximity to Surman’s home and business, investigators said.

Prosecutors say Surman told investigators that two of the suspected bombs found in his home contained flash powder, while the other two contained erythritol tetranitrate. Both are explosive materials, the probable cause affidavit said.

Who is David W. Surman Jr.?

Surman is the owner of Consolidated Chemical & Solvents, located on Spinnerstown Road. The company says on its website that it sells chemicals to industrial clients, educational facilities, and research laboratories. "We offer a large selection of products in our online store, and have many others by customer request," the website boasts.

Surman has been in a zoning dispute with Milford Township in connection with the company "for some time," according to The Morning Call.

In 2013, he had been granted a variance to sell, repair and store scientific and light industrial equipment at the Spinnerstown Road property. But after a fire there in 2017, the township issued a violation notice because inspectors determined he constructed an addition without a permit and was storing "large quantities" of chemicals, The Morning Call reported.

He appealed the violation notice, which was then upheld by the board and the case is now pending in Bucks County Court.

What exactly Surman intended to do with the alleged explosive devices is unclear at this point.

The District Attorney has declined to speculate about Surman’s motives, saying there is no evidence he is a member of any hate groups.

However, a notebook with troubling hand-drawn illustrations was located at Surman's residence, and officials shared those pages with reporters.

The drawn images, created with magic marker on looseleaf pages, feature a swastika, a burning cross, obscenities directed at federal agencies, and disparaging words about gay people. (See the notebook pages here.)

RELATED: 'God Save Us Now': See The Alleged Bucks County Bomber's Notebook

Investigation goes on

While authorities say they're "satisfied" that they have apprehended the person responsible for the blasts, the investigation is ongoing.

Surman is being held at Bucks County prison after being unable to make bail, which was set at $750,000, 10 percent cash. The judge ordered him to surrender his passport and possess no guns or chemicals that could be used in explosives. (UPDATE: Surman posted bail Friday.)

“He defines a danger to the community. I have no doubt that if he gets out, he will go back home and continue what he has been doing,” said First Assistant District Attorney Gregg D. Shore, who has been assigned to prosecute the case. “We are one step away from someone being seriously injured.”

Meanwhile, officials are urging residents to call 911 if they come across anything they think might be an unexploded bomb. Anyone having information that could help the investigation should call the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI and select Option 4 on the menu.

In addition to Pennsylvania State Police, the FBI, the ATF, and the Bucks County Detectives, several local departments assisted, including Richland Township, Quakertown Borough, the Montgomery County Bomb Squad, among others.

“This is a great example of where collaboration across local, state and federal agencies has saved human life,” Weintraub said.

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Main image of Surman via Bucks DA