Here’s the press release from the Irvine Police Department regarding the arrest of two 18-year-old Mission Viejo residents this week:
PRESS RELEASE
Subject: TEENS ARRESTED FOR EXPLODING WATER BOTTLES
Irvine Police have arrested two Mission Viejo teens in connection with exploding plastic water bottles at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
Shortly before 10:00 p.m. on Monday July 19, 2010, Irvine Police were called to the Irvine Spectrum Center (115 Fortune) regarding teens exploding plastic water bottles. Security officers had observed the teens and their activity and responded to contact them, at which time the subjects ran to a vehicle and fled the area. The suspect’s vehicle license plate number was obtained and provided to police. Through follow-up investigation police located and arrested the suspects at their residences in Mission Viejo.
The suspects had exploded three plastic water bottles at various outside locations at the Irvine Spectrum Center. No one was injured. Evidently the suspects had taken small plastic water bottles and had mixed household chemicals in them, causing a chemical reaction that caused the capped bottles to expand and pop. Such items are considered destructive devices. Personnel from the Hazardous Devices Section of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded as a precaution and also assisted in collecting evidence.
Arrestees: Kyle McCann, an 18-year-old resident of Mission Viejo / Jason Mathewes, an 18-year-old resident of Mission Viejo
Commenters on an OC Weekly article are chiding Police for overreacting. Did the arrest and $1 million bail go too far?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t think they overreacted. I’ve seen a guy lose partial hearing from a water bottle bomb made with dry ice. And it’s one thing to do it in a backyard or remote area, but to do it at the Spectrum Center is idiotic.
I think 18 is old enough to know that a piece of plastic in the eye can cause permanently damage. Arresting them probably did them a favor because apparently no one has explained the concept of safety in public places to these individuals.
Ignore this and then it quickly becomes a fad. That is a fad we can do without. Best to nip it now.
But I don’t think that they should be getting a felony conviction or anything on their “permanent record”. How many times do we hear about something like this being treated as a threat to homeland security or some ridiculous thing like that? Like getting sent to a continuation school for having an aspirin in their backpack or a pair of nail clippers in their gym locker.
Keep it safe, but for heaven’s sake, please keep it in proportion.
On the other hand, they ARE 18 years old… If they don’t know better than this by now, they may well be stupid enough to be a danger to society after all.
It’s not an overreaction to arrest and charge them. But lets see what the charges end up being. I suspect the DA will offer them a reduced plea deal that is more in line with the offense. I do think the 1 million dollar bail was excessive given the charges, especially in light of the fact that we have child molesters in this state that are given far less bail amounts.
No, the police did not overreact. Yes the bail amount was excessive. The whole incident should be a wake-up call to the boys and also to their parents. Let’s hope they all learn a lesson from this.
I know where those young men can blow up all sorts of things and hike all day, plus get paid for it. USMC, cure for teen boredom.