The Milford Township man accused of possessing four improvised explosive devices waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday. David W. Surman Jr., 30, of Old Bethlehem Pike, was arrested in June and charged with four counts each of unlawful possession of a weapon of mass destruction, possessing an instrument of crime and possessing a prohibited offensive weapon as well as one count each of illegal possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia from an April 2 incident.

            Surman appeared before New Britain District Judge Regina Armitage. The hearing was rescheduled from Oct. 15. Larry King, the former director of communications for the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, did not respond to a question regarding why the hearing was moved up.

            Law enforcement officials arrested Surman on June 28 and charged him with four counts each of unlawful possession of a weapon of mass destruction, possessing an instrument of crime and possessing a prohibited offensive weapon as well as one count each of illegal possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

            Surman was charged as a result of an investigation into explosions reported in the upper area of Bucks County since April 1, according to an email from King.

            "This is a long time coming," said Matt Weintraub, the Bucks County district attorney, during a June 28 news conference. 

            Court records identify Gregg David Shore, an assistant Bucks County district attorney, as the lead prosecutor. William Joshua Buchanan, a Doylestown attorney, is listed as Surman's defense counsel.

            Surman remains free after posting $75,000 surety on June 29, according to information posted on a state judicial website.

            The investigation into the explosions is ongoing, according to King. Antonetta Stancu, a deputy district attorney and the lead prosecutor assigned to the case, responded through the former spokesperson in a Sept. 13 email, that because this is an ongoing investigation she would not comment on the evidence outside of court.

            State troopers from the Dublin barracks arrested Surman at his residence in the early morning hours on June 28 while law enforcement officials served a sealed search warrant, according to Weintraub.

            Law enforcement officials from the Montgomery County Bomb Squad and the State Police, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also served a similar warrant at the Consolidated Chemical & Solvents LLC, located in the 2200 block of Spinnerstown Road, which Surman owns and where he serves as president.