Man Throws Molotov Cocktail at Van Because of Boredom, Complaint Says

A 19-year-old Waukesha man who was bored at a bonfire party is accused of creating a Molotov cocktail, which set a neighbor’s van on fire, according to a criminal complaint.

Leif L. Erickson was charged Tuesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court with possessing/manufacturing a Molotov cocktail and criminal damage to property. If convicted, he faces up to 3-3/4 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

Waukesha police officers responded to a residence on Barney Street at 2:25 p.m. April 27 where they found a 2000 Dodge Caravan on fire with the passenger side window smashed out.

A broken glass beer bottle was located near the vehicle, the complaint states. An officer smelled gasoline on the beer bottle and found a T-shirt near the vehicle with burnt marks.

Several witnesses at the bonfire party identified Erickson as the suspect to police in May and June. One woman told a detective she heard Erickson say he was bored and wanted to Molotov cocktail something. He walked away from the yard, she told Waukesha police, and she heard a loud noise minutes later, according to the complaint.

Erickson returned to the backyard and told everyone to get their stories straight because there would be serious problems if people pointed police to him, the woman told police, according to the criminal complaint.

Erickson refused to give a statement to police on June 14, according to the complaint. Bail was set at $500 Tuesday.