Update 7/17/18 – Colabella was arraigned last week and had bail set at $100,000. He was arrested three weeks ago at his grandfather’s house in Wildwood, N.J., the day after the suspicious device was found in his Bethlehem self-storage unit. His girlfriend was also arrested. Both were charged with possession of illegal paraphernalia inside their vehicle, though she was later released, according to the source.
Colabella remained in jail as of last Wednesday. His lawyer, John Waldron, indicated he was trying to arrange Colabella’s bail and working to prevent federal charges from being levied against the 22-year-old.
The suspect’s next court date wasn’t reported.
6/22/18 – Several homes were evacuated on Wednesday when investigators discovered a suspicious device inside a unit at Dreamers Self Storage in Bethlehem, Pa., that was capable of creating a “harmful event.” Police requested assistance from the city’s bomb squad and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. About a dozen guns were recovered from the unit and several other items were destroyed as a precaution, according to the source.
The evacuation lasted about three hours. It was lifted after the unspecified device had been secured, the source reported.
Police are searching for Matthew Colabella, 22, the renter of the storage unit, who is believed to be out of state. Investigators acted on a tip that Colabella had illegally purchased gun parts despite being prohibited from possessing a firearm, according to the source. Colabella was charged with a felony count of making a false written statement when trying to buy a gun on Sept. 19, 2016, in Upper Macungie Township, Pa. The charge was later dropped when he agreed to enter a one-year program for first offenders. The deal allowed him to avoid prison and a permanent criminal record.
Tools for creating firearms were discovered at Colabella’s residence, along with records indicating he’d purchased 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Police also found syringes, marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the home. A rental receipt from Dreamers at 1022 Hellertown Road led investigators to Colabella’s storage unit.
A California resident reported selling Colabella a handgun slide on eBay, but Colabella later blocked the charge, according to court records. Upon examining Colabella’s eBay purchase history, the seller discovered Colabella had made several other gun-part purchases, he told investigators.
The investigation is ongoing.
Source:
The Morning Call, Bethlehem Township Firearms Fugitive Is Returned From Wildwood, N.J.
The Morning Call, Bethlehem Township Police Seek Man Who Kept Guns, 'Device' in Storage Facility
