METHUEN — A Lawrence man was arrested and charged Monday with making a bomb threat at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, police said.
James Tirado, 41, was charged with communicating a bomb scare and possession of a Class E substance, police said. He is said to be homeless, according to police.
At 1:08 a.m. Monday, Methuen police and firefighters responded to the emergency room lobby at Holy Family Hospital, 70 East St., after Tirado approached a hospital employee claiming to have a bomb vest, police said in a press release.
Officers found Tirado in the parking lot and found two backpacks and a small suitcase in the area outside the emergency room entrance, police said. Based on the placement of the bags — including one of the bags being behind a bench outside — and Tirado's statement, the Methuen Police Explosives Detection K-9 unit and the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Unit also responded.
"All the pieces started to add together, so we had to basically ensure the safety of everyone," Methuen police Capt. Randy Haggar said.
Police determined that none of the bags contained explosives. The emergency room was secured during the incident and patients were temporarily routed to other hospital entrances.
Officers did, however, locate multiple doses of the prescription drugs Gabapentin and Burpropion on Tirado during a search, police said.
“I am proud of the swift and professional work by our officers to bring this situation to a peaceful end,” police Chief Joseph Solomon said. “We take these threats very seriously, and want to reassure everyone that the hospital is safe and that there is not threat to the community.”
Mayor Stephen Zanni also commended the quick work and collaboration of the various authorities and their “determined effort to keep everyone safe.”
Haggar said the situation and Tirado's statement were "obviously very alarming," to hospital staff.
Tirado is expected to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Lawrence District Court. He had not been arraigned as of 1 p.m.