Massena Teen Under Arrest For Bomb Build

MASSENA - A 17-year-old Massena man told police Monday afternoon he had made a homemade bomb because he wanted to make a statement by placing it in an ice rink and hurting people.

Village police charged Jordan J. Page, 17, of 7 Winters St., Massena, with a felony count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and a misdemeanor count of possession of a noxious material at 2 p.m. Monday at his residence. He was also charged with an unlawful possession of marijuana after he was found in possession of two smoking devices and a small bag of marijuana.

Page was arraigned by Massena Village Justice Eric J. Gustafson and sent to the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility with bail set at $20,000 cash or $40,000 bond.

Despite repeated warnings from the judge and family members, Page made statements during his arraignment that differed from the comments he had reportedly made earlier in the day. "I didn't want to hurt anyone. I never had any intent ... ," he said, before being cut off by the judge.

"I can't even speak," the teenager fumed. "I have too much on my plate right now This is bull."

He also expressed some surprise he was being sent to jail for the charges lodged against him Monday afternoon. "Did you just send me to jail? I was just taking out the trash. This is overkill," he told the judge.

Police said they responded to Page's residence after receiving a report that he had made a bomb and planned to take it to an ice rink to make a statement. They said they seized a homemade bomb that had been placed in a 2 liter soda bottle along with various items designed to cause injury when the device exploded.

Court documents said the bottle contained gas, lighter fluid, antifreeze, nails, staples, screws and other materials.

Page was taken into custody without incident, village police said.

"We're very fortunate the information came forward, and we were able to act on it before he took the next step," Massena Village Police Chief Timmy J. Currier said.

Page recently returned to the area after living in the Watertown area. "He's new to us," Mr. Currier said.

The Massena teenager, then listing a Watertown address, was one of three men charged in connection with a robbery on Arsenal Street in October that left a man in just his underwear and socks.

Page was charged with second-degree robbery, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal trespass in connection with that case.

The trio were accused of pushing Scott Whitford down, taking his wallet and making him strip to his underwear while he was walking along the 100 block of Arsenal Street. Police later found some of his clothing at the Paddock Arcade.

Watertown Police also accused Page of breaking into the Paddock Arcade by getting on the roof and breaking two windows, causing $300 in damage.