By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR — Three teen boys will likely face criminal charges after allegedly assaulting a 10-year-old girl with homemade bottle bombs, a container filled with flammable household cleaners.
Police Chief Mary Sclabassi said detectives are continuing their investigation. Five boys originally were taken into custody Tuesday and charges are expected for three of them, Sclabassi said.
Police were called to the 7600 block of Dudley Avenue at 5:30 p.m. April 4, where a woman told them that her daughter, 10, was riding a bicycle near Roosevelt and Hayes.
Three boys — a 14-year-old and two 13-year-olds, all eighth grade students at West Junior High School — threw a bottle bomb near the girl’s feet. When she kicked at the bottle, which contained a combination of cleaning agents and aluminum, the container exploded.
The girl was splashed by chemicals and had trouble breathing. She was taken to the hospital for treatment, and did not appear to suffer any serious injuries.
Responding officers were unable to locate the three suspects, but police were told on Monday by the girl’s brother that he had overheard several boys talking about throwing something at the girl.
The girl’s family told police they want to press charges against the boys.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)