Comment on Skowhegan man charged with criminal use of explosives

SKOWHEGAN — A Skowhegan man was charged with criminal use of explosives Sunday after local and state police spent the morning taking various chemicals out of his Summer Street home as part of their investigation. The charge against Philip Ewing, 46, was logged into the Somerset County jail bookings database at 11:31 a.m. Ewing first called the Skowhegan Police Department Saturday at 9:30 p.m., indicating that he was trying to disable a black powder cannon, according to Chief David Bucknam. Ewing told police that “he was trying to disable (the cannon) by drilling holes into it as he didn’t feel safe due to everyone yelling about al-Qaida.” Bucknam said police then met with Ewing, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.