2 teens face theft charges in Van Wert car break-ins

4/15/2004

VAN WERT - Police filed three charges of theft against two Van Wert County teenagers arrested last week after they were found to possess homemade black-powder bombs in their car.

David Lange, 17, and Michael Missler, 15, are charged with breaking into vehicles in the American Legion Post parking lot and stealing items from cars. The Lange youth was caught by Legion patrons Thursday night, while young Missler was arrested by police a short time later.

Both were charged with manufacture and possession of dangerous ordnance after police responding to the American Legion found the bombs in their car. Van Wert Police Detective Bill Trobaugh said he does not believe the boys meant to harm anyone with the bombs but only wanted to explode them for fun.