The guy who drove the tanker truck that exploded in Everett is officially Blotter material. Not only did Chad LaFrance have some driving trouble on his record, but he admitted to issuing a bomb threat in 1997. The Globe quoted what he wrote on a package at a UPS store where he used to work: "Tick. Tick.Tick. The time is running out. UPS Sucks. Danger. Explosive illegal bombs enclosed. Watch handling."

His aunt called it a "kid's prank," but LaFrance was around 20 years old when he did it, which implies something about his adult judgment.

The Herald also discovered that, in 2002, LaFrance "pleaded guilty to punching Dover, N.H., police officer Robert Morin in the mouth and trying to run away to evade arrest."

Any good lawyer worth his or her salt will state that his behavior when he was 20 or his officer-punching past has nothing to do with a speeding slipup, but the information might make the company that hired him nervous. What was their background-check process, exactly?

All charges alleged until proven under law. Image of Everett map from Google maps.