Dearborn man escapes illegal firework blast at home

'Coconut shell' firework explodes on man's front porch

DEARBORN, Mich. – Walter Zaluski was on his couch about 2 a.m. Friday morning watching "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" when a powerful firework exploded on his front porch.

"My living room filled with smoke," he said.

The criminal intent here is debatable, but the damage is not. Zaluski's front door was busted and his windows were blown out. Police told him how close of a call it was.

"(The officer) said, 'I hope you know that those blinds saved your life. Because if it wasn't for those blinds, all that glass would've got ya,'" he said.

Dearborn police confirmed it was a firework. They are investigating. Meanwhile, there is word on the street as to who did it and what it was.

"Someone put a coconut shell and blew it up," said Ahmed Ali, who is Zaluski's neighbor.

What is a coconut shell?

"I mean, it's literally a bomb," said Mohamed Baydoun, of Crazy Discount Fireworks. "It can blow up cars, destroy sides of houses."

Zaluski was mad at first, but now he's just happy he wasn't hurt.

"I don't think anyone's out to get me, I mean, I'm too damn old," he said.


About the Author:

Jason is Local 4’s utility infielder. In addition to anchoring the morning newscast, he often reports on a variety of stories from the tragic, like the shootings at Michigan State, to the off-beat, like great gas station food.