Two Michigan wrestlers arraigned for creating Molotov cocktails, starting couch fire

By Max Cohen
Daily Sports Writer  On  May 24th, 2013

This story has been updated to reflect the comments of Michigan associate athletic director, Dave Ablauf.

In the aftermath of the Michigan men’s basketball team’s national championship loss to Louisville April 8, the University campus was fraught with downtrodden faces and couch fires.

The source of one fire is now said to be linked to devices made by two Wolverine athletes.

One couch fire on the 1100 block of White Street became a cause of extra concern when police found bottles that resembled the remnants of Molotov cocktails upon arrival at the scene in the early morning hours of April 9, AnnArbor.com reported,

Wednesday, two Michigan wrestlers, rising sophomore Rossi Bruno and rising redshirt sophomore Justin Dozier, were arraigned with two counts each on explosives charges for possessing and manufacturing explosives in connection with the fire. The charge is a four-year felony.

“The coach (Joe McFarland) was made aware late last night and brought it to the attention of the athletic administration,”said Michigan associate athletic director, Dave Ablauf. “The student-athletes have been suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of the court hearing.”

The police investigation linked Bruno and Dozier with up to four Molotov cocktails, the report read. Dozier’s warrant shows that he resided on the block of the couch fire, while Bruno lived at a different location. Bruno and Dozier were released on personal recognizance bonds and will appear in district court for a preliminary hearing May 30.

Bruno was a starter for the Michigan wrestling team this season in the 133-pound weight class. Though the five-time Florida state champion arrived on campus a highly touted recruit, he took his lumps on the mat in his first season facing a schedule that featured some of the top wrestlers nationwide in his weight class. Bruno went 16-18 on the year and earned a seventh-place finish at the Big Ten Championships.

Dozier started for the Wolverines at the beginning of last season in the heavyweight position when fifth-year senior Ben Apland was injured. Dozier wrestled his way to an 8-6 record on the season, including a 7-2 record in tournaments.

Printed from www.michigandaily.com on Tue, 28 May 2013 04:28:38 -0400