An Alliance man was arrested after allegedly setting off homemade bombs just feet from his house on Tuesday while neighbors and children were outside.
At 11 p.m., officers arrived at the residence of Richard Bowman, 50, located at 1014 S. Freedom Avenue for a fireworks complaint. Bowman, who was intoxicated according to police, denied setting off fireworks.
After officers spoke to the caller and watched a video of Bowman, they discovered he had set off multiple homemade bombs, a police report states.
According to police, Bowman made several oxygen-and-acetylene-style bombs which use a mixture of fuel and air to work. The mixture is sprayed into the bag before being lit. Then the bag burns and explodes, resulting in a large concussion that sends fiery pieces of melted plastic into the air, according to police.
The video obtained by police shows Bowman setting off the bombs from his front porch with children and other neighbors in the nearby vicinity. It also shows him setting the wet yard on fire, according to the report.
After Bowman's son was unable to put out the flames with his shoes, he used a bucket of water to extinguish the fire, the report states.
Bowman denied setting off the bombs, but after he learned there was a video, he told officers in jail that it was, "the Fourth of July! So of course we need explosions!"
In 2012, he was previously convicted of having weapons under disability. Bowman was charged with unlawful possession of danger ordinance-illegal manufacturing, a level two felony and also having weapons under disability and while intoxicated.
Bowman was taken to Stark County Jail where he waits for his arraignment in Alliance Municipal Court on July 6.
