A quiet Royal Palm Beach street turned into a crime scene Monday when, according to deputies, a woman lit a red firecracker and hurled it at a Palm Beach County sheriff’s patrol car. Deputies arrested the woman on the 10250 block of Rhythm Circle without further incident, then booked her into the Palm Beach County Jail. In his report, the deputy on scene wrote that he feared the device could be used to cause him harm.
How deputies say the incident unfolded
According to WPBF, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said investigators were called to the Rhythm Circle neighborhood Monday after reports of fireworks. Deputies reported finding Latoya Bowles holding a lit red cylindrical firecracker. The report states that Bowles tossed the device at a marked patrol vehicle and then tried to light a second firework before deputies stepped in. In the narrative quoted by WPBF, the deputy wrote, “I feared that she may attempt to use the firework to cause me harm.”
Charges and potential penalties
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office says Bowles faces three charges, including two felonies: a weapon offense and an aggravated assault count. The weapon charge tracks the state law that forbids “shooting into or throwing deadly missiles into” an occupied vehicle or building. That provision appears in Chapter 790 of the Florida Statutes, according to the Florida Senate. Second-degree felonies can carry significant prison terms under state sentencing rules, as outlined by the Florida Senate.
Neighbors and the scene
According to WPBF, Bowles allegedly told a neighbor she would “light it and throw it” toward the neighbor’s home because the neighbor had called police, and investigators say she tried to light another cylindrical firecracker before deputies took her into custody. Public property records, including county parcel data at Florida Parcels, link the location to the 10250 block of Rhythm Circle in Royal Palm Beach.
Fireworks rules and safety
Florida law draws a distinction between sparklers and explosive fireworks, and the state statute on the sale and use of fireworks leaves room for local governments to impose stricter rules. Chapter 791 of the Florida Statutes sets definitions and minimum safety standards and authorizes local officials to seize illegal fireworks. Residents unsure about what is permitted in Royal Palm Beach can consult the statute or contact village code enforcement for local ordinances. See the Florida Senate site for details on Chapter 791.
What happens next
The sheriff's office says Bowles was transported to the Palm Beach County Jail; court records and the State Attorney's Office docket will show whether prosecutors formally file the counts and what bond, if any, is set. For official information from the agency, see the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
