A dwelling in the famed Hollywood area was reportedly the target of an attempted arson attack, a resident claims, with a suspect appearing to lob an improvised incendiary device into a secured neighborhood. Captured by a security camera, the incident unfolded as an individual seemed to launch a bottle over a barrier into West Lake Village. The event reportedly took place early in the morning, around 4.00 a.m., on the 16th of June.
The surveillance equipment managed to record the impressive fireball that erupted just moments after the projected item made contact. The narrative comes from the account of a troubled local, Michael Hoffman, who discussed the incident with 7News. ‘It was peculiar, totally unexpected and arbitrary,’ he commented.
Michael Hoffman’s place of residence is coincidentally adjacent to the wall where, as he noted, the alleged incendiary device was hurled. ‘We heard a distinct, singular blast,’ Hoffman recounted, narrating his experience. He recalls discovering signs of charred ground and shards of scattered glass in close proximity to his property.
‘At first, I assumed the disturbance was nothing more than a product of the storm,’ he told 7News. The suspected incendiary device was reportedly constructed from a repurposed glass beer bottle, stuffed with some form of absorbent gauze.
Residents were fortunate that the suspected weapon landed haphazardly on the paved street, instead of nearby dry grass. The landing spot undoubtedly reduced the risk of a potential wildfire. Earlier, 7News reported a separate incident that took place along the Hollywood Boardwalk.
In the reported incident, an unidentified person was alleged to have thrown another similar device towards the rear of Broadwalk Restaurant, a popular eating spot situated on the 1400 block of North Surf Road. This event was recorded as occurring at approximately 4:45 a.m.
Danielle Thomas, the joint proprietor of the restaurant, was in disbelief when she viewed the footage captured by her surveillance system. ‘The shocking incident caused a fire in our back alley. The flames spread to, and consumed a trash container, and were alarmingly close to our ice maker,’ she revealed.
‘The entire driveway was ablaze.’ she further added. The security cameras on the premises managed to document the suspect and the red Toyota Corolla he was apparently using. However, investigators have dismissed any link between this incident and the one that occurred in West Lake Village.
Meanwhile, Michael Hoffman anticipates a swift resolution to the investigation, hoping that detectives will soon uncover the identity of the person responsible for the alleged arson attack. Additionally, he is eager to understand the motive behind these dangerous actions. ‘It’s unclear at this point whether my house was the intended target. It would be comforting to think otherwise,’ he commented.
Hoffman expressed his relief that there were no casualties resulting from the incident, nor substantial property damage. If you possess any information that might assist the investigation of either incident, you are encouraged to get in touch with Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
Please note, informants can opt to remain confidential, safeguarding their identity. As an enticement to provide information, there may be significance to note that those offering valuable information could be eligible for a substantial reward, potentially reaching up to $5,000.