Ark. Sparkler Bomb Blast Sparks Five-Hour Probe

Jan. 12--The sound of an explosion startled several people in a Clarksville neighborhood Jan. 5.

Clarksville police responded to the Stewart Place community in the 100 block of Cherokee Lane in Clarksville after several residents called about hearing an explosion about 9 p.m. Jan. 5, Clarksville Police Chief Greg Donaldson said.

Clarksville police and firefighters arrived and blocked off the area for nearly five hours while Conway bomb squad authorities investigated and police gathered evidence, Donaldson said.

Investigators determined the explosion came from a bundle of sparklers that were taped together and set off, Donaldson said. The FBI is involved with the investigation of the incident and authorities have sent evidence to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for examination.

"I think you can infer into it with the FBI being involved, this is something that we take very seriously," Donaldson said. "What's going to happen if someone accidentally goes by and picks that thing up, like a kid or something, and it explodes? If there's an injury that happens, then you're looking at a prank that turns into a tragedy."

Donaldson said the police have developed some "promising" leads, and the investigation is ongoing.

No injuries were reported, and residents of the area responded well to the incident, Donaldson said.

"A lot of folks just wanted to know what the loud explosion was," Donaldson said. "From my understanding, you could hear it from about a half a mile away."

Police believe the explosion was an isolated incident, and do not expect any similar occurrences in the future, Donaldson said.

"I don't want the neighbors out there and the people in my community to be worried or upset or concerned," Donaldson said. "But anytime you have an explosion, that's what's going to happen. People are going to be concerned."

Copyright 2013 - Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark.