A Deerfield Beach man is behind bars after deputies say a shots-fired call led them to an apartment stocked with Molotov cocktails, multiple firearms and ammunition. Deputies reported no injuries at the scene and later identified the suspect as 47-year-old Justin Messingham.
According to Local 10, deputies found the incendiary devices and several guns inside a residence on the 900 block of Crystal Lake Drive. The area was secured, and Messingham was arrested without further incident, deputies said.
What deputies say they found
Investigators say they recovered improvised incendiary devices commonly known as Molotov cocktails, along with multiple firearms and ammunition inside the apartment. That discovery triggered a broader investigation and ultimately led to Messingham’s arrest.
Legal risks and possible charges
Possessing firebombs or incendiary devices can mean serious trouble under state law. Florida lists the unlawful throwing, placing or discharging of a destructive device or bomb among offenses that carry heightened penalties, according to the Florida Senate. Federal courts also treat homemade incendiary devices as “destructive devices,” which can bring federal charges and enhanced penalties in some circumstances, as reflected in federal case law on the issue, per Justia.
Bond hearing and next steps
Messingham appeared in bond court, where a judge ordered a mental-health evaluation and set bond at $300,500, according to Local 10. As of Monday evening, he remained at the Broward County Main Jail while the Broward Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation…