Neglected dog, huge cache of explosives found
Matteson, IL (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jun 10, 2011
County: Cook

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Felicia West

A nationwide fugitive arrest warrant has been issued for a southwest suburban man for his alleged involvement with a cache of fireworks and explosives found in a south suburban trailer. Authorities said there was enough firepower to level a city block.

The fugitive warrant was issued Thursday for Michael Dorosz, 19, of the 11900 block of West 195th Street in Mokena, who may have fled the state, according to the Cook County Sheriff's office.

He is charged with unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the explosives found June 10 in the Timber Ridge Trailer Park in the 0-100 block of Candlegate Circle in Matteson, the release said.

Officials believe Dorosz may have fled Illinois, but remains in contact with people in suburban Chicago and also has acquaintances in Indiana, according to the release

Dorosz' half-sister, Felicia West, 21, who lived in the trailer, was released on bond Monday after being charged with unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and animal cruelty, the release said.

Police initially went to Timber Ridge about 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, on a domestic dispute call and found West and her 5-year-old daughter inside, along with a dog locked in a cage.

When officers saw fireworks and black powder in the home, they notified the bomb squad, which removed the explosives, sheriff's office spokesman Steve Patterson said.

Bomb squad personnel and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives removed the following, according to the sheriff's office:

-- 300 pounds of fireworks, both small consumer types and professional grade;

-- about 51 pounds of flash powder

-- seven 50-kilogram containers of suspected potassium perchlorate;

-- 3,300 M-type explosives;

-- 1,000 empty 3-by-1.25-inch cardboard tubes

-- four empty 50-pound containers of aluminum powder.

Investigators believe the materials were being used to create homemade fireworks, but said the ingredients could have destroyed an entire city block, the release said.

All of the explosives were destroyed Friday morning.

West, charged on Saturday, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 1 in Markham, the release said. She was freed on $500 bail Monday.

Earlier this month, Dorosz pleaded guilty to possession of fireworks in Will County, the release said. On May 4, he was arrested by Mokena police after 47 cases of fireworks were discovered on the porch of his home. He pleaded guilty June 8 and paid a $250 fine.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact sheriff's police detectives at (708) 865-4896.

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