man jailed for shooting fireworks “because this is America”

DES MOINES, Iowa (KWQC) – A Des Moines man is facing charges for shooting off fireworks after police say they had warned him to stop.

Quinnlan R. O’Meara, 22, is charged with using fireworks, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.

Police received a noise complaint around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

When they arrived at a Pleasant Street apartment complex, officers say they heard fireworks and saw O’Meara holding fireworks which are illegal under state law.

Police confiscated the fireworks and told O’Meara he would be going to jail if he shot off more.

Soon after the officers left, they were called back to the complex because of more complaints.

Officers returned to find O’Meara walking out of his apartment “holding a firework in one hand and a lighter in the other.”

A police report says O’Meara told officers he planned to light a roman candle from his front door.

O’Meara also told officers that when he got out of jail he was going to light another firework “with a blunt in his mouth because this is America.”

Police say when they asked O’Meara to take a preliminary breathalyzer test, he responded “that he would take a preliminary go [expletive] yourself test.”

O’Meara was taken into custody without incident.

http://kwqc.com/2016/07/05/iowa-man-jailed-for-shooting-fireworks-because-this-is-america/