Nashua man accused of threatening police, 4th of July events

A 24-year-old man accused of threatening to bomb Fourth of July festivities and kill Nashua police officers is in jail.According to court documents, Daniel Mercado allegedly made several threats against Nashua police and the public on Wednesday. His parents said their son never has and never intended to hurt anyone but desperately needs more mental health support than what he's being offered.Nashua police said they got a call from Mercado's mental health counselor Wednesday saying he was delusional and threatening to shoot some of their officers.According to court paperwork, Mercado admitted to posting on social media over 500 times that day, threatening to kill officers and friends of his, and claiming he had picked up five pipe bombs from Keene and planted them around Nashua and Merrimack.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<"We always take it seriously because, you know, the world we live in, you never know what people may be willing to do," said Lt. Andrew Lane.Police said they found Mercado driving in Nashua, but he sped away and was later arrested in Massachusetts.According to court paperwork, Mercado told police he never intended to act on any of the threats and denied having access to firearms or pipe bombs.His mother told police that her son had been living in his car since he was released from New Hampshire Hospital at the end of June, and his mental health has declined because of a lack of follow-up care. "I think he's paying a price," said his mother, Angela Mercado. "But instead of getting the support and the help from the community and from this organization, other agencies out there, we don't get anything."The state asked that Daniel Mercado be held, saying he is a danger to himself and the public. The judge agreed, but his family said they hope he is transferred to New Hampshire Hospital to get the help they said he needs.