BARTOW — A Lake Wales firefighter facing felony charges for tossing a half-full bottle of water at a motorist who angered him pleaded no contest Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
The city has placed Dy’Sean Broome, 25, on a one-year probation as a result of the incident, said Fire Chief Joe Jenkins. In court, Broome was sentenced to six months of probation and ordered to participate in an anger management program.
According to Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports, Broome was traveling on U.S. 98 South near Palmetto Avenue on Sept. 12, 2017, when another car, driven by Stephanie Dudley, pulled around Broome’s silver Toyota to pass him.
Broome told deputies that Dudley’s actions angered him, so he threw a water bottle at her car, striking her passenger, Linda Caraway, in the arm. The incident left a red mark and minor swelling on her arm, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.
Dudley called 911 from her car and continued to follow Broome’s vehicle until deputies arrived, reports state.
Prosecutors charged Broome with throwing a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He also was charged with battery on a person 65 years or older, a third-degree felony.
In a plea agreement with prosecutors, Broome pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct, a second-degree misdemeanor. By pleading no contest, Broome neither challenged the allegations against him nor admitted guilt. Legally, it carries the same weight as a guilty plea.
Broome, who joined the Fire Department in October 2013 and is paid $43,416 annually, was suspended without pay immediately following his arrest. He was reinstated two weeks later following an internal investigation, city officials said. His city-imposed yearlong probation began Sept. 21.
Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. Follow her on Twitter @southpolkscene.