Chemicals removed from South Hadley apartment complex

SOUTH HADLEY — A substantial emergency response to the Riverboat Village Apartments on Sunday afternoon resulted in the removal of “numerous noxious chemicals” and the arrest of a resident on weapons charges, police said.

South Hadley Police were called to assist Fire District 1 with the investigation of unknown chemical substances inside an apartment, Chief Jennifer Gundersen reported.

Numerous agencies were called in to assist, and officials seized a number of chemicals that were destroyed at an offsite location, police said. The report did not specify the nature of the chemicals.

Police also arrested Paul C. Traficante, 33, on charges of possession of a large-capacity feeding device and improper storage of a firearm.

Assisting in the response were the state fire marshal’s office; the Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division and Joint Hazardous Incident Response Team; State Police detectives assigned to the Northwestern district attorney’s office; State Police Crime Scene Services and Fire and Explosion Investigations Section; and the Department of Environmental Protection.

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