POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An Orlando man’s Fourth of July celebration ended in handcuffs after police caught him shooting fireworks out of his car window while driving next to other vehicles.
A Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy was patrolling near Lake Wales around 9:00 p.m. on July 4th when they spotted a purple 2001 Honda CRZ traveling north on US 27.
The driver was actively firing a Roman candle—a traditional holiday firework that shoots multiple burning projectiles from a foot-long tube—directly out of his open window into the surrounding traffic.
The deputy immediately pulled the vehicle over. During the traffic stop, the driver, identified as 29-year-old Anthony Geraldo Rodriguez, admitted to the dangerous stunt. According to law enforcement, Rodriguez acknowledged that he “messed up,” explaining to the deputy that his friend had recently made a video doing the exact same thing, and he thought it looked cool.
A subsequent search of the Honda CRZ revealed more pyrotechnics within the driver’s reach. Deputies located additional Roman candles sitting on the front passenger seat, as well as a mortar-style firework resting on the floorboard.
Rodriguez was taken into custody without further incident. He has been charged with misdemeanor counts of Reckless Driving and Culpable Negligence.
READ: Polk County Deputies Arrest Repeat Offender After Uber Eats SUV Theft Stalls Out
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