New Year’s Eve reveler arrested in Hoquiam after starting fire with fireworks, resisting arrest

A Hoquiam man, agitated that his fireworks display New Year’s Eve was interrupted by fire and police response, was arrested for reckless burning, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to a statement from the Hoquiam Police Department.

Hoquiam officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Emerson Avenue shortly before 5 p.m. Dec. 31. When they arrived they found a large fire at the end of a driveway.

The man became agitated that his New Year’s Eve fun was being infringed upon and he began yelling obscenities at the officers, according to the statement. As the Hoquiam Fire Department arrived on scene to put out the fire, the man was told he was under arrest and began to resist officers’ commands. He was eventually taken into custody and booked into the Hoquiam jail.

Numerous witnesses reported that the subject had been shooting fireworks into traffic and some of the fireworks had hit passing vehicles, according to the statement.