MIDLAND, Texas (AP) - A West Texas bomb technician has been injured critically when a bomb he was dismantling exploded at a police training center.
Midland police Sgt. Brian Rackow was injured about 11 a.m. Thursday at the Midland police training center. Training Division Lt. Bernie Kraft tells the Midland Reporter-Telegram that Rackow may have lost his left hand and suffered injuries to his left arm.
Rackow was transferred to University Medical Center in Lubbock; Midland police Deputy Chief J.R. Smith says he's listed in critical but stable condition.
Kraft says the device exploded while Rackow was removing an aluminum casing from the device to prepare it for a training exercise where officers neutralize oil field explosives.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Midland police will investigate.
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