Charges Weighed in Prank : Investigation: Report to district attorney’s office on throwing of explosive in Dodger parking lot is due today.

Charges against New York Met outfielder Vince Coleman might be filed today or Wednesday by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Greg Somes, deputy district attorney of the complaint division, said Monday that he had talked with arson investigator John Little about an incident in which Coleman tossed a powerful explosive device from a vehicle driven by Dodger Eric Davis as it pulled away from a group of fans in the Dodger Stadium parking lot.

The incident occurred at 4:10 p.m. Saturday after a game between the Dodgers and Mets. At least three people were injured--Cindy Mayhew, 33, of Covina; a 1-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old boy. Their injuries were minor.

Somes said Little is expected to submit a written report today, and then it will be determined what charges, if any, will be filed. Somes said possible charges include assault with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment, or a misdemeanor charge.

Los Angeles Fire Capt. Steve Ruda said the district attorney’s office will handle the case if felony charges are filed. If the case is deemed a misdemeanor, it will be turned over to the city attorney’s office.

A New York source said Coleman plans to retain an attorney to handle the case.

Ruda said the investigation is continuing and that it has not been determined what the explosive device was. It has been reported that it was an M-80, a military artillery simulator. But one source said the device was even more powerful than an M-80.

A caller to radio station KMPC, claiming to be an eyewitness, said the explosion was so loud it “reverberated off the mountains” near Dodger Stadium and that his wife was still experiencing ringing in her ears on Monday.

“We were all just shocked,” the witness said, who added, in defense of Coleman, that the device landed at least a car length away from the nearest person.

Davis was initially quoted as saying: “We were laughing about it when we drove off. Every time somebody lights a firecracker, you laugh. At least, I do.”

Davis apparently did not realize the severity of the incident at the time. On Monday, he released a statement through the Dodgers that read:

“The statements attributed to me by the media are both inaccurate and misleading. Although I had no warning and did not know that a passenger in my car was about to do something that might injure someone, I deeply regret that the incident occurred.

“As the father of two young children, I know the danger associated with fireworks and I have the utmost concern for anyone who may have been injured.”

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Times staff writer Maryann Hudson contributed to this story from San Francisco.