Bottle explosive found in local parking structure
The University of Michigan Department of Public Safety and the Michigan State Police are investigating what appears to be the remnants of a of bottle explosive found at the Fletcher Parking Structure, 201 Fletcher Street, Ann Arbor.
Sgt. Gerry Steiner of the U-M Dept. of Public Safety said that what initially appeared to be the remnants of a pop bottle bomb may actually have been a firecracker that popped inside a 20 ounce bottle of pop with a cap on it.
"It had to be a small explosion because the pop bottle has small splits in it and there was no residue left around the bottle," said Steiner.
The bottle was discovered by a parking maintenance attendant on the second level of the parking structure. Steiner said the explosion could have gone off any time between 10 a.m. Dec. 20 and 10 a.m. Dec. 22.
Steiner said the bottle was run over by a vehicle and that the only damage was to the bottle itself.
The Michigan State Police are now pursuing the opinion of an explosives expert.
Comments
MIKE
Mon, Dec 26, 2011 : 11:33 p.m.
The "bomb squad is going to be real busy on July 5th.
nickcarraweigh
Mon, Dec 26, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
I, for one, have had enough. I'm getting out of this stinking jungle and moving back to Saigon, where I'll be safe
Sparty
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
And you don't think it may be prudent to check with experts in light of major bomb threats at major Universities around the US previously? What if it had been a bomb? It's always easy to be critical with hindsight, as quasi experts here tend to do. Typical - what about the lawyer whose car was bombed recently?? Or the regular firearm incidents at Universities? Just crack some jokes about careful police investigation work and thank goodness nothing did happen in our City.
Sparty
Mon, Dec 26, 2011 : 4:55 a.m.
This s a report of the investigation that happened - notice the tense. They didn't wait two days and then suddenly decide to investigate, but investigated and then reported their findings which you are criticizing now with hindsight.
MIKE
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 11:16 p.m.
A firecracker in a plastic pop bottle, discovered 2 days after it "blew up". Yes, by all means we need to consult an explosives expert. Put the bill on our tab.
MIKE
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 9:23 p.m.
Well, it's official. Ann Arbor is the laughing stock of the world.
jns131
Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 9:10 p.m.
When did it not? It always has.
JJ
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
U gotta be kiddin me! Get a life aa news! Btw. MERRY CHRISTMAS. :-)
jns131
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.
I wonder if they were testing it out for New Years? I've seen a lot of fireworks that time of year.
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 8 a.m.
Sloooww news day. Now if the bottle had been filled with ANFO, we'd have something worth noticing.
Saw
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 1:24 a.m.
what a non story this is! why did this even seem worth reporting .sure wish we had a newspaper worth reading i will not buy your paper again. thought it was bad already now it's off the charts bad ! mlive is a bad very boring waste of time.
Bear
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
This is the stupidest waste of resources, time & energy I have ever seen in my life. I don't even know why it made it into an article. A plastic soda bottle, with a firecracker in it is a far cry from "an explosive device" and is definitely a case of crying wolf! STUPID is the only word that fits here that isn't obscene. And for it to be turned over to the State Police to pursue the opinion of an explosives expert is equally ridiculous. "Steiner said the bottle was run over by a vehicle and that the only damage was to the bottle." Wow! What amazing logic! A plastic bottle, run over by a car, and the ONLY damage was to the plastic bottle! AMAZING! I'm thinking that the bottle, with the cap on, was run over by a car, went 'pop', and caused small splits down it's side. No residue? Even a tiny black cat firecracker leaves residue from burning gunpowder. So, why is this story even here? Please explain that one.
CRichmond
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 9:39 p.m.
What's next; felony possession of carbonated drink Mentos bombs?
Rod Johnson
Mon, Dec 26, 2011 : 3:27 a.m.
When Mentos are outlawed, only outlaws will have Mentos.
Bear
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 9:43 p.m.
and yes, you'd better believe they pursue felony charges on that one. dumb. They probably figure the person will be the next Ted Kaczynski. So by busting for felony mentos possession the authorities are 'only being proactive'.
quetzalcoatl
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 8:17 p.m.
A pop bottle with a firecracker inside it on Christmas Eve cries out for the vast tools of Homeland Security, backed by a well-funded study and a dozen or so Acts of Congress. Luckily, the ever-vigilant men and women of the Michigan State Police and the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety seem to have overtime money to burn, and not much else on their plates. I just hope the madman responsible for this outrage doesn't scare Santa away.