Man Detonates Face, Lives

A City of Fairfax man is being treated for injuries after detonating a blasting cap in his mouth.

On September 30 at about 11:45 p.m., the City of Fairfax Police and Fire Department responded to a call on the 4200 block of Chain Bridge Road.

According to a search warrant filed by the city's Fire and Rescue Department, "Howard Davis was walking around the residence intoxicated. His roommates stated he was walking around the residence with a blasting cap and copper wire in his mouth. He told his roommates that he was looking for a battery to detonate the device. He was last seen walking into a bedroom. A roommate, who was in the bedroom at the time of the incident, reported hearing an explosion coming from across the bedroom. The roommate found Mr. Davis lying on the bedroom floor with a severe facial wound."

A preliminary investigation found that Davis plugged the blasting cap into an electrical outlet, activating it.

When police and fire officials arrived on the scene, they found Davis "disfigured and unresponsive" amid "an exploded blasting cap lying on the floor, next to a large amount of blood, tissue and teeth fragments."

Davis' roommates told investigators that he had a prior incident involving explosives. Davis was terminated from his place of employment at a tree service company for detonating an explosive device, according to the search warrant.

Davis was convicted of driving while intoxicated in 1999. He was fined $60 for hunting, trapping and fishing without a license in 2002 and was fined $50 for swearing in public/intoxicated in 2005.

The City Fire Marshall's investigation is ongoing, and they have not yet decided if they will press any charges.

Davis is in fair condition at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Submitted on 10/09/2006

Submitted by: Tara
Reference: Connection Newspapers

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James said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
This incident may be a result of mental illness, but there's no indication in the article, so I will proceed as if he was of sound (if inebriated) mind. Blowing up one's face by plugging in a blasting cap is pretty damn stupid. He may have also removed himself from the gene pool by making himself so unattractive that any possibility of future reproduction is negated! :-) Just the same, I will go neutral, citing alcohol and the possibility of mental illness, albeit undocumented. Thanks, Tara!

Jorge said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention

Graham said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Clearly Davis has some issues. Explosives are dangerous. Placing them in your mouth is a sure sign of a mental disorder. Pressing charges will NOT help Mr Davis - he needs a caring individual to get him some professional help. The next time Mr Davis has a 'turn', it may be an entire, populated building that goes up.

Fitzroy said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Yeah, I almost went with "not amusing" on this because I also believe the guy might have a serious mental illness. Still, there is some prospect for humor here, so I am not inclined to go negative. This is definitely another tough call though, and the challenge as well as the contribution is appreciated.

Tracy said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Alcohol and daredevils don't mix! This guy needs help though, not a DA

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