March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 47 F

Police Issue Warning On Bottle Bombs

The Anne Arundel County Police Department and Fire Department would like to make citizens aware of the dangers associated with devices commonly referred to as “bottle bombs”. Both agencies have investigated several incidents of “bottle bomb” pranks in the last two years with one incident resulting in serious injuries to the victim.Fire investigators handled 28 cases in 2011 and six cases so far in 2012. These devices are often researched online and manufactured by juveniles. The chemicals used in these devices can be extremely hazardous to the skin, eyes and respiratory system along with presenting a danger to the environment. Victims may require immediate medical attention and the pressure from the explosion is capable of causing traumatic injuries to the body or extensive damage to property.

In a recent incident on June 11, 2012, at approximately 6:30 p.m., officers from Eastern District responded for a report of an explosion at the Sunset Elementary School located in the 8500 block of Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena. The investigation revealed that two juvenile male suspects threw a plastic “bottle bomb” at a 6-year-old female on the playground. The device exploded, but did not injure the child. Officers arrived and located the juveniles on the bleachers in the rear of the school. Numerous plastic bottles and household chemical products were located in close proximity to the juveniles. The 13-year-old and 15-year-old males from Pasadena were placed under arrest and transported to Eastern District, where they were charged as juveniles on felony citations with Reckless Endangerment, Possession of a Destructive Device-Manufacturing and Distributing and related charges. The Police Department continues to investigate this incident along with Fire Investigators.

Any citizen encountering a suspicious device or container that may be filled with chemicals or emanating a suspicious odor is urged to immediately call 9-1-1.

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