Naples police: Unknown suspect lit fireworks inside park bathroom, damaged urinal

Reporter: Taylor Smith Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
July 5, 2021, at 12:32am, Naples police say the unkown male above ignited fireworks in the men’s restroom at Sea Gate Park (5151 West Blvd, Naples, FL), causing damage to a urinal. If you can identify this suspect, please contact the Naples Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (239) 213-4822. Credit: via Naples Police Department.

It was a mad dash after an unknown person ignited fireworks in a men’s restroom. A recording captured the explosion moments after they ran out the door.

Naples Police Department is searching for the culprit who is accused lighting fireworks that damaged to a public bathroom at Seagate Park in Naples recently.

Police say, when they walked in this bathroom, pieces of a urinal were shattered all over the stall.

A bathroom urinal was damaged by a fireworks explosion inside a men’s restroom at Seagate Park in Naples Monday, July 5, 2021. Credit: Naples Police Department.

Parents who live nearby and take their kids to the park all the time say what happened could have been a lot worse.

“Everyone’s reaction was, ‘How could this happen in our neighborhood,” Amanda Stanosheck said.

Police are on the lookout for the unkown male who was recorded running inside the men’s bathroom and then running out as fireworks exploded through the door.

The fireworks blast went off right next to a playground, a baseball field and an elementary school — all areas where kids can be found.

Parents say this crime could have ended differently.

“I think we are really lucky that something worse didn’t happen. They could have really hurt themselves. They could have really hurt somebody else,” Stanosheck said. “I really hope they catch whoever did it.”

We visited the bathroom to see all the damages were fixed Wednesday.

Still, police want help from any tips people can bring forward in case it might lead them to the suspect.

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