What started as a routine traffic stop outside the Town of Lakeside last night quickly turned into something out of an action movie, ending with a Fort Worth bomb squad on scene and a driver in handcuffs, according to police.
Lakeside officers say they first tried to pull over a white sedan around 9:30 p.m. after spotting it on a service road with no headlights. The car reportedly hit speeds between 90 and 100 mph, then escalated the situation by turning the wrong way onto the road and slamming into a Texas Department of Transportation "Do Not Enter" sign. The driver was arrested and now faces charges of reckless driving and possession of a prohibited weapon.
As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Lakeside Police Department said the officer initially tried to stop the westbound sedan for driving without headlights. The vehicle then accelerated to highway speeds and began traveling against traffic, which prompted officers to flip on their emergency lights and move to cut it off before anyone got hurt.
What Officers Say They Found In The Car
Once the vehicle was stopped and searched, officers reported finding multiple "suspicious pyrotechnic devices" inside. The devices were described as heavily modified, wrapped in black electrical tape and outfitted with exposed fuses and pull rings.
The Fort Worth Police Department Bomb Squad was called in and used X-ray equipment on the scene. One of the devices was determined to be designed as a projectile-style weapon containing an explosive charge, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Summer Of Sketchy Fireworks In North Texas
This is not the only fireworks or explosives scare North Texas has seen this summer. As reported by FOX 4, Fort Worth police recently shut down an illegal fireworks operation with help from the city's Bomb & Arson unit ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
And in May, Audacy's KRLD covered a separate incident in which bomb technicians were called to Lake Lewisville and destroyed a pipe bomb that had been found there. Together, those cases highlight what officials have been warning about for years: homemade pyrotechnics and illegal fireworks are not just a nuisance; they can be genuinely dangerous, especially in public places.
How Local Rules Treat Fireworks And Homemade Devices
According to Lakeside police, the driver in yesterday's case admitted that the weapon included parts from an airsoft gun and was loaded with fireworks materials and BB projectiles. He faces local charges, and officials say the matter may be handled in Lakeside Municipal Court at 9830 Confederate Park Road, as per the Town of Lakeside.
Under Lakeside's ordinances, possession and use of fireworks are broadly outlawed inside town limits unless they are part of a licensed public display. Violations can bring both municipal and criminal penalties, according to the town code, a point that local officials have been emphasizing as fireworks season continues.
