FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and his deputies are trying to find dangerous fireworks that were stolen from a business in Bunnell after one of the explosives injured two young boys.
"We're following leads," Staly said.
Deputies do not know who is responsible for breaking into a makeshift fireworks stand and stealing and altering the explosives that later injured two young boys when they lit it.
"We're talking to the most injured child today, if he's medically able to," Staly said.
Deputies said there could have been multiple break-ins at Big Nic’s Boom Boom Sticks before it was ever reported.
"We don't really know how many people actually broke in. We did recover some DNA evidence so if we develop a suspect, we'll be able to prove the case," Staly said.
The Sheriff's Office, the fire department and other county leaders are drafting an ordinance to stop the sale of all illegal fireworks, which are ones that leave the ground and explode.
"The law in Florida has a loophole," Staly said.
Staly said people can bring and sell explosive fireworks as long as they sign an agricultural exemption.
"Generally, what we find is that these people may or may not be requiring that signature. Detectives are still determining how that business operated. Let's face it, most people that go there don't own a farm," he said.
The fire department said in this case, the owner has proper licensing, including a business tax receipt, but carelessly left the explosives inside the store. Officials said the fireworks are supposed to be secured in a convex box, which is still sitting on the property.
Staly said he immediately ordered the owner to clear out the stand of any fireworks.
"This is an unfortunate loophole in the law that's never been closed. Maybe something good will come out of this. These aren't the first people to be injured by illegal fireworks in Florida and unfortunately, they probably won't be the last," he said.