Unfortunately for this idiot Florida Man, two Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies were parked at a 7-Eleven in Royal Palm Beach at approximately 4 a.m. when a criminal decided he'd take a spark at arson.
According to one of the arresting officers, 38-year-old Jason Ball was standing near a shopping cart towards the north end of the building. Ball “appeared to reach towards the shopping cart to which I saw a spark.”
Apparently, Ball walked towards dumpsters near the back of the building, and within seconds, “I saw the shopping cart completely on fire with flames reaching several feet into the air and touching the sidewall.”
The officers were able to put the fire out and when they searched the area, they found Ball hiding behind a dumpster, “clutching an orange lighter in his left hand.”
Ball admitted that he had taken the cart from a nearby Walmart store. According to the arrest warrant, the clerk told the deputies that Ball “had just purchased an orange lighter from inside the 7-Eleven moments before she noticed the fire.”
According to the arrest report, “While in custody, Jason Ball continued to make numerous excited utterances about setting the fire and believed that it wasn't a crime to do so.”
Ball was charged with arson of an occupied structure, criminal mischief, and unlawful removal of a shopping cart. But here's the kicker he was released on bail after about eight hours, even though, according to the arresting deputy, Ball has an extensive criminal history and was just recently released from jail...again.
Photo: Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office/Canva