EXPLOSIVES FUGITIVE SURRENDERS
Thursday, June 24, 2010— A Matteson man wanted on explosives charges is behind bars on a $100,000 D Bond, Sheriff Tom Dart announced today.
Michael Dorosz, 19, of the 0 – 100 block of Candlegate in the Timber Ridge Trailer Park turned himself in at the Markham courthouse after a warrant was issued for his arrest on June 16th. He’s been charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon in connection with hundreds of pounds of fireworks and explosive chemicals found in his Matteson home. The amount of volatile materials found inside could have destroyed an entire city block.
Dorosz sister, Felicia West, was also charged in the case. West, 21, also of the 0 – 100 block of Candlegate in the Timber Ridge Trailer Park, was charged with felony unlawful use of weapon, misdemeanor child endangerment and misdemeanor animal cruelty.
Patrol officers discovered the explosive materials on June 10th, while responding to a reported burglary in progress. When the officers arrived at the home, they found West and her five-year-old daughter inside the residence, along with a dog locked up in a cage. West claimed to be the owner of the trailer. In plain view were large amounts of apparent explosive material.
The officers on the scene immediately requested assistance from Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives and the sheriff’s bomb unit. Bomb squad personnel and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives removed the following materials from the residence:
- 300 lbs of 1.4 explosives (small consumer fireworks) and 1.3 explosives (large professional fireworks)
- Approximately 51 lbs of flash powder
- Approximately 200lbs of aluminum powder
- Seven 50 kg containers of suspected potassium perchlorate
- 3,300 M type devices
- 1,000 empty 3 x 1 ¼ inch cardboard tubes
- 4 empty 50lb containers of aluminum powder
Investigators believe the materials were being used to create homemade fireworks. All of the explosives were safely destroyed by the sheriff’s office on June 11th.
Dorosz’ and West’s next court date is July 1st in Markham.