'This is America!' says man arrested for fireworks

Show Caption Hide Caption Fireworks danger: The 7 don'ts you need to know The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is offering up some do's and don'ts on firework safety ahead of July 4th.

A Des Moines man was arrested for allegedly firing Roman candles at 4 a.m., telling police as they took him to jail that he'd do it again "with a blunt in his mouth because this is America."

Police gave him a chance to stop, according to a report. Officers first arrived at the apartment complex in the 900 block of Pleasant Street at 4 a.m. on a report of loud fireworks that bothered the neighbors.

They found Quinnlan Reid O'Meara, 23, holding fireworks on the corner of 10th and Chestnut streets. Police confiscated his fireworks and said if he was caught setting them off again, he'd go to jail.

As O'Meara walked away, police noted he smelled of alcohol, staggered and had bloodshot watery eyes.

As soon as the police left, neighbors called again.

Police report they then caught O'Meara walking out of his apartment holding a Roman candle in one hand and a lighter in the other. Officers arrested him.

He told officers he was walking outside to light a firework from his front door, reports said. He added that when he gets out of jail, "he's going to light another one off and he's going to do it with a blunt in his mouth because this is America."

O'Meara was taken to the Polk County Jail on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct and using fireworks — a $65 fine for each. He waived his right to an attorney and pleaded guilty to the charges, court records show.