Residents in a Hollywood neighborhood are concerned after someone allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at them in the street. Earlier this week, police said they were investigating a similar incident at a family-run restaurant.
It is unclear whether the same person is responsible or whether both incidents are related.
Michael Hoffman said he went outside on June 16 and found a broken beer bottle on the street. As he was cleaning up the glass, he realized something was wrong.
“I thought it was a little odd that the street was stained by a beer bottle thrown over the wall,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman watched his neighbor’s surveillance video and couldn’t believe what he saw. He said someone threw a Molotov cocktail on his street, just steps from his front door.
“If the trees hadn’t knocked it down, it could have been a Molotov cocktail on my doorstep or my neighbors’ doorstep,” Hoffman said. “At that point, I was worried.”
Eight days later and just a few miles away, Hollywood police said someone also lit a bottle and threw it at the Broadwalk Restaurant & Grill.
Surveillance video from June 24 shows a red car stopping in an alley behind the restaurant. As the car comes to a stop, a man dressed in dark clothing gets out, lights a bottle and throws it toward the back of the business. The arsonist then gets back in his car and drives off.
There was no damage to the business structure. The Hollywood PD Detective Bureau is investigating this case.
“I just don’t know what the connection could be, but if that’s it, that’s it,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman said investigators have closed his case, which he is not happy about. He is asking police to look into the matter before something worse happens.
“Is this a sign that someone is more dangerous? Should there be an intervention? Was it a child?” Hoffman said.
NBC6 contacted police, the ATF and the Hollywood Police Department on Saturday afternoon.
