Aug. 24--BOMBAY -- Two young men were arrested after they allegedly used an explosive substance to set fire to mailboxes and a dumpster.
In the evening hours of Aug. 4, Jonathan L. Francis, 22, and Noah M. Random IV, 17, both of Hogansburg, were riding in a car through various locations on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, said Tribal Police Chief Andrew Thomas.
They placed an explosive substance called Tannerite in at least three mailboxes and one dumpster and detonated the substance, which caused the property to catch fire, he said.
The mailboxes and dumpster were destroyed, he said.
"It's not the first incident we've had with Tannerite," Thomas said, adding that the powdery substance is used to make fireworks.
When officers found the pair, they also found five packages of Tannerite in their possession, Thomas said.
Francis and Ransom were arrested just before 11 p.m. that night and charged with first-degree criminal mischief, a felony; fifth-degree arson, a misdemeanor; acting in a manner to injure a child younger than 17, a misdemeanor; and second-degree criminal nuisance, a misdemeanor.
A 16-year-old who was driving the vehicle that police say Francis and Ransom were riding in was charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.
He and a 15-year-old who was a passenger in the car were issued court appearance tickets, Thomas said.
The names of the two younger boys weren't released because of their ages.
Random and Francis were issued citations and arraigned in Bombay Town Court before being released to the supervision of probation. They are scheduled to reappear in court on Sept. 10.
They will likely answer to their felony criminal-mischief charge in Franklin County Court, Thomas said.
Email Felicia Krieg: [email protected]: @FeliciaKrieg
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