Elgin man charged with detonating homemade fireworks

An Elgin man accused of detonating homemade fireworks was arrested this week and now faces felony explosives and bomb charges, officials say.

David C. Minard, 36, was initially questioned by police May 9 after a complaint he was setting off fireworks near his home on the 300 block of Fulton Street, police said.

Authorities investigated, and a grand jury recently indicted him on the explosives charges because Minard's stash of gunpowder and other materials could be used to make pipe bombs and other explosives, Elgin Deputy Police Chief Bill Wolf said.

"There was no indication he was planning on blowing up anything - more like he was making homemade fireworks for fun," Wolf said. "He wasn't arrested that night, because we wanted the bomb squad to look at everything."

Wolf said Minard gave police permission to search his home May 9.

Authorities found gunpowder, cardboard cylinders wrapped in metallic tape, jars with various flammable liquids, PVC pipe wrapped in metallic tape, 12 homemade cherry bombs, and a 16-ounce container of muzzle loading propellent, Wolf said.

"He was detonating them for fun in his backyard, and this stuff was found in his basement," Wolf said. "They could all be used to create some type of explosive or incendiary device."

Minard was being held at the Kane County jail on $50,000 bail, meaning he must post $5,000 to be released while the charges are pending. He does not have any previous felony arrests in Kane County, records show.

Minard faces anywhere from probation to 15 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge - possession of an explosive incendiary device.

He is next due in court Wednesday.