Anti-Fireworks Rampage: Raging Man Pours Gas Near Kids, Flips Wheelchair

An anti-fireworks rampage ended with a 72-year-old North Naples, Florida man being arrested and taken to jail after an apparent episode of fireworks rage on July 4.

According to the Naples News, Richard Rice told deputies that he’d had enough after two hours of kids setting off fireworks near his house. He said that the noise bothered his dogs.

According to a copy of the police report from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office posted by Outlandish News, several witnesses said that the anti-fireworks rampager emerged from his home around 9:30 PM with a container of gas. He reportedly said, “The party’s over” and began pouring out the gas.

Oops. Gas. Fireworks. Not a good combination.

Especially around kids.

And most especially because the police report alleged that some of the children held lit sparklers in their hands.

Well, it’s all fun and games until somebody’s arm gets blown off.

A man in his wheelchair and his daughter then approached Rice to get him to cool down. Instead, the anti-fireworks rager flipped Jones out of his wheelchair right onto the street.

Finally, someone in the crowd figured out that they’d better leave this guy to the paid professionals. They called 911, and Rice was arrested for the undignified rampage by Collier County deputies.

He faces a minor charge described as “abusing the disabled without great harm.”

OK, I like to think that I’m as sensitive as the next person, and the endless booming and crashing of the Fourth Of July fireworks explosions isn’t always that great for the nerves.

But somehow I don’t think the Richard Rice way is really the way to deal with it.

And now the neighbors, not to mention the rest of the world, will be laughing at that mugshot into next week. Fireworks rage may not be a recognized medical condition, but the look on the anti-fireworks rampager’s face is priceless.

[firework background photo by Jon Sullivan via Wikimedia]