E.L. explosion under police investigation

An apparent man-made explosion that occurred at about noon Tuesday near the corner of Michigan Avenue and Center Street is under investigation by the East Lansing Police Department.

Police are searching for the person who put an explosive device in the parking lot between Cron Management, 117 Center St., and Harrison Roadhouse, 720 Michigan Ave.

The one employee inside Cron Management was not injured, but the building suffered about a couple hundred dollars in minor damage to its exterior, East Lansing police Sgt. Scott Wriggelsworth said.

The explosion produced a “very loud bang,” East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert said.

“It was pretty loud,” said Amanda Chmielewski, who was working at Harrison Roadhouse when she heard the explosion. “Like a firework, I would say.”

Police are investigating the explosion as an intentional act, Wibert said.

The device used is unknown, Wriggelsworth said. It could be a bomb or firework, he added.

“It wasn’t a freak of nature,” Wriggelsworth said.

Wriggelsworth said he was unsure whether the device was homemade or purchased.

Wibert said police have no suspects but are searching for the person or people responsible. Police initially believed the explosion to be electrical, but Consumer’s Energy confirmed there was no gas leaking in the area, Wibert said.

“It was definitely not something like a car backfiring or a gasoline leak or anything like that,” he said. “We’re collecting evidence and actually actively looking for anyone who did this.”

Anyone with information should call the East Lansing Police Department at (517) 351-4220.