Florida Man Arrested After Throwing Firecrackers Under Child’s Bed in ‘Prank Gone Wrong’

Florida Man Arrested After Throwing Firecrackers Under Child’s Bed in ‘Prank Gone Wrong’
A string of fire crackers in a file photo. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)

A homeless Florida man has been arrested after he threw a string of lit firecrackers under his host’s daughter’s bed while she was asleep, in a “prank gone wrong.”

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office released a Facebook post on July 7 stating they had arrested Matthew Morrison, 44, a homeless man of Crestview, Florida, for breaking into the home and terrifying the homeowner’s 9-year-old daughter.

The statement further read: “Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home on Godfrey Street Saturday morning. The homeowner told them Morrison lives in a tent outside and went into the house without permission. He says Morrison threw a string of lit firecrackers under a bed where a nine-year-old was sound asleep.”

The homeowner had granted Morrison the favor as an “acquaintance” to camp on his property in order to help him, but instead of expressing his gratitude, Morrison made his way into his house and threw a bunch of lit firecrackers under the man’s 9-year-old daughter’s bed, who was sound asleep at the time, Lt. Todd Watkins of Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News.

The homeowner chased Morrison out of the house with a stick, and he is no longer welcome on the man’s property.

Nobody was hurt during the incident, but the girl said she cried and was all shaky, and couldn’t fall asleep later that night.

Watkins, who was one of the officers that responded to the scene, said he was unsure what Morrison intended with his deed. He said he found it “a strange deal.”

“I’m not sure what he was trying to accomplish,” Watkins told Fox News. “The prank thing didn’t really sound like it was a legitimate reason.”

Morrison was charged with burglary, child cruelty without great harm, and possession of a controlled substance, as police also found about two grams of methamphetamine in his pockets, according to the statement.

Many comments on Facebook were critical of Morrison’s “prank.”

Ida Santiago McCann said: “Wow this is lack of respect, lack of class and lack of thinking. So good knowing Okaloosa county sheriff detained the man which releases hope, confidence peace, and goodness to countless people when they protect and serve in many beautiful and helpful ways!!! Okaloosa County Sheriff Department are the best!”

Another user, Marie Generazio, said: “Do people often think “hey, I’ll let this tweaker sleep in the back yard of the home my children live in” and not see a problem with that??? If this dude was able to walk in and get to her room when she was sleeping, and they only knew he was there because of the firecracker, he could have done a hell of a lot worse to that child. Ever hear of Elizabeth Smart?? God, people are stupid!!!”

Steven Michael Verdekel commented: “The strung-out meth-dude having access to your 9-year-old girl’s room and living in a tent in your yard should be the main story. The firecrackers under the bed would have been hilarious in almost any other circumstance.”

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