The father of a 16-year-old who injured himself and five others when an explosive device detonated in his Michigan classroom has been arrested on a felony charge.
David Robert Daniel Saylor, 33, of Brooks Township, Michigan, was charged on Tuesday with one felony count of manufacturing explosive devices and a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor by allegedly building the explosives with his teenage son, MLive reported.
Saylor appeared in court from Newaygo County Jail via video conference. He reportedly openly wept when the extent of his son’s injuries were discussed by Newaygo County Prosecutor Ellsworth Stay, who said he was “almost killed” by the blast.
The explosion occurred on Monday morning at Newaygo High School. When police arrived, they discovered that the 16-year-old who accidentally set off the device had moderate to severe injuries. Four other students were treated for minor wounds, and the teacher of the classroom also later went to the hospital for an evaluation.
SIX PEOPLE INJURED AFTER TEENAGER ACCIDENTALLY SETS OFF HOMEMADE EXPLOSIVE IN SCHOOL: POLICE
Newaygo Schools Superintendent Peggy Mathis said the blast was “not an attack or designed to be something malicious, but a serious lack of judgment.”
Stay said the teenager’s thumbs were badly lacerated by the explosion.
“For lack of a better word, his thumbs were blown off both hands,” the prosecutor said.
Stay said an investigation into the incident was ongoing to see if there was any “ill intent” on behalf of Saylor.
After the Monday blast, state authorities were assisted by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. A search warrant was executed at Saylor’s home, and investigators said multiple other explosive devices were discovered. Stay said Saylor’s son had indicated in conversations that he and his father were producing the devices at their home.
Newaygo County District Judge Melissa Dykman issued a $100,000 cash or surety bond and noted that in addition to his son, Saylor put his neighbors in harm’s way by keeping the explosives at his house.
READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Saylor faces up to four years in prison for the felony charge.
