Mashantucket tribal council member charged in connection with fireworks explosion

Kimberly Drelich, The Day, New London, Conn.
·4 min read

Apr. 29—MASHANTUCKET — Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council member Daniel W. Menihan is facing charges in connection with an incident last July 4 in which fireworks exploded injuring several adults and children during a celebration on the tribe's reservation, state police said.

Menihan is listed as a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council on the tribe's website.

Menihan, 41, was charged Thursday with possession of illegal fireworks, failure to obtain a permit to display fireworks or special effects, illegal operation of fireworks, and first-degree reckless endangerment after the Eastern District Major Crime Squad and the Fire Explosion Investigation Unit obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Police said the charges were the result of a lengthy investigation after several people were taken to local hospitals for injuries from a firework display at a baseball field during a Fourth of July event.

Lori Potter, Public Affairs Director for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, released a statement Saturday about Menihan's arrest.

"We have been made aware of Councilor Menihan's arrest. He is a loved and respected member of our community who has positively impacted the lives of so many Mashantucket citizens. We look forward to a swift resolution of this matter," she wrote.

According to the affidavit for the arrest warrant, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Police, Mashantucket Pequot Fire Department, and American Ambulance responded to the incident.

Amid a large crowd of people and multiple cars, firefighters searched and eventually found an injured 13-year-old in a motor vehicle in the rear of the community center, according to the report. A witness later told tribal police that the 13-year-old, who was sitting in the bleachers, suffered lacerations to his shin and a burn to his lower left abdomen.

Another witness said that shortly after the fireworks began around 9:30 p.m., "a group of fireworks closest to first base caught on fire, causing an explosion" and another 13-year-old victim "sustained a burn to his left hand and right wrist, as well as black soot to his face." The witness said "she did not think the firework mishap was done intentionally and described it as a 'freak accident.' "

A 71-year-old man, who sustained minor injuries, including burns and ringing in his ears, reported to the tribal police that there was a huge explosion and that people started running and screaming, according to the report. The victim supplied police with an email from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation about the Fourth of July Tribal Family Event which stated that there would be a get together and fireworks.

The affidavit states Menihan had helped plan and sponsor the event, including allocating funds for the fireworks, disc jockey, bounce house, water slide and food and beverages.

Menihan told police in July that he has been a tribal councilman for six years and chairs the tribe's parks and recreation committee. He told police that the event "was not sanctioned by the tribal council and no permits were obtained for the fireworks," according to the affidavit.

According to the report, another individual interviewed by police said he helped ignite the fireworks display and after lighting a firework wick, the firework shot into the sky and when he looked down again "he noticed a whole group of fireworks were now on fire." He then "started backing up, before witnessing a loud explosion," which he called a "chain reaction." The individual said he was "hit in the face, chest and leg area with projectiles." He added everything happened fast and he was unsure what happened.

Police said in the report that no one involved in the event was approved as a professional pyrotechnician, and the site of the fireworks was not approved by state or local officials.

Police said it was later determined that another person had supplied the fireworks for the event.

The state police Fire Explosion Investigation Unit said fireworks seized were "illegal to possess and/or ignite without a permit in the State of Connecticut, due to their explosive and aerial type."

State police said they are continuing to investigate the incident and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Christopher Hubbard with the Eastern District Major Crimes Squad at (860) 848-6533.