Man arrested, accused of hurling snowball at police officer in Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - An apparent snowball fight escalated early Wednesday in College Town, leading police to discharge pepper balls and arrest one person.

The incident began after Tallahassee Police received complaints about a group of people lobbing snowballs at passing cars, according to a press release from the department. One driver said a snowball collided with their head at the 700 Block of Madison Street, police said.

Throwing a projectile into a moving vehicle is considered a felony and snowballs can be regarded as projectiles, according to authorities.

As an officer arrived to investigate, the snowy situation intensified.

“He too became a target, with both the officer’s patrol car and face being struck by an ‘ice projectile,’” the press release said.

The officer was walloped in the face once again with a snowball as he issued verbal warnings to the crowd over his patrol car’s PA system, authorities said.

The suspected snowballer fled into the crowd and the officer lost him. As additional officers arrived on the scene, they too became targets for the snowballers despite additional verbal warnings from police, the press release said.

After more warnings, the officers discharged their pepper ball systems to disperse the crowd, TPD said.

One man, 22-year-old Garrett King, was arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer for throwing a snowball at police, according to officials.

“While winter storms can be exciting, throwing hard “ice balls,” can be dangerous due to the hard impact when thrown and can be illegal,” the TPD press release said.

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