Chilmark police arrested a man Tuesday for allegedly setting up a fake bomb in Menemsha. 

Bruce Gray, 47, pleaded not guilty in Edgartown District Court Wednesday to possession of a hoax incendiary device and trespassing.

The investigation into Mr. Gray started when Chilmark police were notified of a suspicious item in front of the Menemsha Galley around 10:30 a.m. When police arrived they found what they described as an improvised explosive device in the road.

The item was determined to be a bleach bottle with an electronic charging cable sticking out of the mouth of the bottle, according to police. Paper towels were clogged in the mouth of the bottle, and there were burn marks on the paper towels consistent with a cigarette. 

Police say they also found a cigarette near the bottle, and a laptop in front of the nearby U.S. Coast Guard boathouse.

The road was shut down by police and harbor staff as they investigated the alleged improvised explosive device. State police were called in and a bomb squad confirmed there were no dangerous explosives or accelerants, according to Chilmark police. 

Police interviewed eyewitnesses and pulled nearby surveillance footage to search for possible suspects, according to the statement. Police said witnesses saw a white hatchback in the area of where the device was found, and there was a man driving through Menemsha around the same time. 

Police later found the car at a home on North Road in Chilmark and the man was brought in for questioning. Police say they were able to establish probable cause and arrested Mr. Gray.

Mr. Gray's bail was set at $5,000 and he has a pretrial heraing scheduled for Dec. 11.