Man confesses to building explosive device, Ypsilanti police say
A 25-year-old Ypsilanti man has confessed to building an explosive device that blew up Saturday in an open field, an Ypsilanti police news release said.
No one was injured in the 9:45 p.m. blast, which left small pieces of shrapnel in the field between the 300 blocks of Jarvis Street and West Forest Avenue, the release said.
According to the release, the man admitted constructing the device with a "large amount of legal fireworks" he purchased. He did not have "malicious intent," the release said.
Washtenaw County prosecutors are reviewing the case.
Investigators weren't immediately able to pinpoint the location of the explosion after receiving several calls about it, Fire Capt. Michelle Stansbury said this afternoon. Officers ultimately found evidence at the scene that led them to the man, the release said.
Ypsilanti police Det. Sgt. Troy Fulton did not return a phone call seeking comment this afternoon.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
wunderland
Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 9:52 p.m.
So let me get this straight...some 25-year-old kid mixed up one giant firework using LEGAL fireworks, and set it off in an OPEN FIELD (meaning no people or buildings around which would rule out malicious intent). The DA is still "reviewing the case" which pretty much means they aren't even sure if it is worth prosecuting or not, (and believe me I know I worked in criminal defense law for over 8 years). If this explosion was truly harmful or of a malicious nature of ANY sort, believe me, it would have been all over the news, both state-wide and national. This is a basic prank and all you people are making a big deal out of NOTHING. A girl was just raped on Eastern's campus last week and the guy has not been caught yet! But who cares about that!? Let's continue to use our law enforcement and tax dollars to chase around every friday night college prank that happens on Eastern's campus. GREAT IDEA. And to Mr. Pyrotechnician...come on! ANYTHING can be potentially hazardous including high tech explosives right down to one single solitary match. Yet they still continue to sell 'legal' fireworks and they still allow people to carry guns, which are equally as dangerous. Please stop with the dribble and write a REAL story Ann Arbor news!
RJA
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 9:30 p.m.
Sad that a 25 yr. old doesn't have anything else to do. What was his intent??
Outlaw
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 5:26 p.m.
I live 2.5 miles away....and i heared this explosion....it was so loud it sounded like it was two or three streets over...i immeadeatly turned on the police scanner on my laptop and the police chat was going crazy....cops were reporting calls on dynamite...people said their houses shook.....but man i mapquest the distance and im 2.5 miles away and it was so loud that my rommate who lives in the basement came runnin up stairs like WTF...