More charges filed against man allegedly making fireworks

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by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Macedonia -- A Harper Lane man is now charged with several felonies and a misdemeanor in connection with an April 22 backyard fireworks explosion and prescription drugs allegedly found in his home.

According to Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court records, Jason M. Peltz, 35, did not enter a plea to the felony charges, which included aggravated arson, a first-degree felony; possession of dangerous ordinance, a second-degree felony; and fourth-degree possession of drugs. He pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree misdemeanor drug possession at his April 29 arraignment. Municipal Court Judge Lisa L. Coates ordered his case sent to a grand jury at an April 30 pretrial hearing.

Peltz was being held in the Summit County Jail on a $25,000 bond as of May 5. His attorney, Mark Stanton, declined to comment.

Police and fire officials say that about 5 pounds of chemicals Peltz was allegedly mixing in his backyard to make fireworks exploded in the early afternoon April 22, heavily damaging the house and damaging nearby houses with shrapnel. About 100 residents were forced to evacuate for about six hours, but although Peltz and his mother were in the home, no one was injured.

Police said they found another 15 pounds of flash powder on the property, which the Summit County Sheriff's bomb squad detonated at the now-closed Boston Mills Country Club. Police said they also found enough chemicals and cardboard tubes to make thousands of fireworks devices.

Peltz was originally arraigned April 23 on the possession of dangerous ordinance charge, with the additional charges added April 29.

Police Lt. Vince Yakopovich said the drug possession charges were in connection with nearly 200 tablets of two different prescription painkillers that police allege finding "in plain sight" within the home. He said police became suspicious because the medication was not in standard prescription containers with labels.

"We're continuing our investigation, but it appears the drugs were obtained illegally," said Yakopovich.

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169