Man arrested, allegedly threw M-80 firework at Pierce County home causing ‘gaping hole’

Deputies in Pierce County arrested a 45-year-old man for allegedly throwing a modified M-80 firework onto the porch of a home Saturday.

“You can tell it was modified by the tape that was wrapped around it, which causes it to have a larger and louder explosion,” Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputy Carly Cappetto said.

Cappetto said the home, near the corner of 19th Avenue East and East Galer Street, was hit in what’s being described as a targeted attack, and it was caught on the home’s surveillance cameras.

“It shows a white vehicle slowly drive by the house, and from the back driver-side window, you see that window roll down, and you see a lit firework come flying out the window, and it lands right on her front porch,” she explained. “And then, about three seconds later, there is a very large explosion. The damage caused to her home is pretty much a gaping hole in the side of her house and in her porch floorboards.”

Deputies were able to track the vehicle and the suspect, and an arrest was made.

Man booked for allegedly throwing M-80 firework at Pierce County home

“He was booked for felony malicious placement of an explosive device and malicious mischief in the second degree,” Cappetto said.

With a suspect in custody and no one injured, Cappetto said the attack could have been a lot worse.

“Essentially, this house could have burned down, and it would have been even more destructive than just a hole in the side of the house,” she shared.

Cappetto noted that while you can purchase M-80s from some tribal firework stands, it is strictly illegal to own them in Washington.

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