Man said Christmas explosion 'blew my hand to hamburger meat'

“Pretty much blew my hand to hamburger meat,” said Alexander, who sustained serious injuries to his right hand and leg after he set off the self-made explosive about 12:48 a.m. Saturday near his home at 407 Ringling Ave., according to the police report.

The device — which consisted of commercial-grade fireworks, black powder and two to four mortar balls — was approximately the size of a softball, according to witnesses at the scene.

Debris from the explosion was found as far away as 111 feet from the initial blast site, according to the police report.

“His hand was blown apart between his index finger and thumb, and there was probably a 3-inch gash from the palm all the way back to his wrist,” said Monroe police Lt. Frank Robinson. “His middle finder was lacerated down to the bone — it was nasty.”

Alexander was transported to Atrium Medical Center and later transferred to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. He was released Christmas Day following surgery.

Alexander said he was supposed to light the device and throw it down a hill. According to police reports, it didn’t work the first time. The second time, Alexander said the fuse burned too quickly, or as he put it, “disappeared in a nanosecond and ‘boom.’ ”

“I guess it was a faulty fuse,” he said.

As a result, his hand will always be deformed, said Alexander, who added that he hopes all of his fingers still move once his hand is done healing.

Pending charges in the incident include unlawful possession/manufacturing a dangerous ordinance, child endangerment and inducing panic, according to the police report.

Robinson said authorities are looking into child endangerment charges because there was a 13-year-old in the vicinity of the explosion. The child’s father, Ricky Allen, also of 407 Ringling Ave., has charges of child endangerment and obstruction recommended against him as well.

Monroe police are continuing to investigate the incident.

“Don’t try to manufacture your own explosives, definitely, and safety, safety, safety,” Alexander said. “If it seems like a bad idea, don’t do it.”