ALFRED — An investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office who inspected the 60 Avery Road residence of Robert Wayne Infante Friday morning found 12 pipe bombs in various stages of construction, according to court documents filed in connection with Infante’s arrest.

Agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives charged Infante, 47, with possession of a destructive device Friday, after a bomb squad found and detonated five pipe bombs in a car registered to Infante in the parking lot of Southern Maine Medical Center. Infante had driven to the hospital after refusing treatment for hand injuries by Alfred Rescue, according to police reports.

Several explosive devices ”“ neighbors said four or five ”“ were also detonated Friday evening at Infante’s Avery Road home, a Cape-Cod-style woodframe structure with an old schoolbus parked in the driveway.

Infante called emergency workers about 8:50 a.m. Friday, initially telling them he’d been hurt in a propane explosion in his basement, according to a U.S. District Court affidavit filed by ATF Special Agent Paul McNeil.

When rescue workers arrived, Infante met them at the entrance to Avery Road and allegedly told them he’d injured his hand filling a butane lighter. When a rescue worker unwrapped a towel from Infante’s bleeding hand, he saw a deep laceration near the thumb and that his middle finger was missing from the knuckle up. As well, the emergency worker observed superficial burns on Infante’s chest similar to birdshot, or fine, powdery burn marks.

Infante declined transport and made his own way to the hospital.

Alfred Fire Department personnel went to the house, where they told investigators they saw marijuana and explosives in the basement, but no evidence of a propane explosion, and notified authorities.

Mike Keely, the state fire investigator, told McNeil he saw more than 100 marijuana plants in the basement, along with “grow lights,” and an estimated 12 pipe bombs in various stages of construction, including a 10-inch long pipe, 1.5 inches in diameter on a workbench. Around the device was what appeared to be blood spatter, as well as small metal objects like screws, nuts, bolts and washers and pyrotechnic powder.

Keely also told the federal agents he saw an open coffee can containing ammunition at the bottom of the basement steps and a shotgun leaning next to the front entry of the house.

He said he saw fireworks, including a box labeled “nine 2-inch mortars” in the old schoolbus parked in the driveway.

Infante, who allegedly told investigators he had a fascination with pipe bombs, was convicted of felony possession and manufacture of a destructive device and making false statements in U.S District Court in Vermont in 1988.

Held at Cumberland County Jail since his arrest, Infante was scheduled to make an initial appearance at U.S. District Court in Portland today.

Infante told state fire investigator Dan Young that he was scraping explosive powder from “snap caps” into a plastic pill bottle Friday morning, according to the court documents. He then poured the contents into a cup to be mixed with black powder in order to fill pipe bombs.

“Infante stated he dropped the powder-filled bottle, causing it to explode,” McNeil wrote. He allegedly told investigators he had constructed four pipe bombs that morning, and that there were three in a second floor bedroom ”“ one on a clock radio, one in the top drawer of a dresser and another on top of a red truck in the room.

Infante also allegedly admitted he had several firearms, including a shotgun and the marijuana.

Investigators spent much of Friday night searching the residence after detonating the explosives.

ATF special agent Dale Armstrong said Infante could face further charges.

By Saturday morning, Avery Road, a sparsely-populated dirt road off the Gore Road in north Alfred, was quiet again.

— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.