A person commits an offense if the person explodes or ignites fireworks with the intent to:

• A. Interfere with the lawful performance of an official duty by a law enforcement officer
• B. Damage property
• C. Disturb the peace
• D. Provoke a panic

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that this offense turns on the specific intent to interfere with a law enforcement officer while they perform a lawful duty. The act of exploding or igniting fireworks is the prohibited conduct, but it only becomes the crime when the person’s purpose is to hinder the officer in the course of their official work. Because the focus is on that particular mental state, other motives like damaging property, disturbing the peace, or causing a panic don’t meet the element unless they also show an intent to interfere with the officer’s duties. For example, using fireworks to distract or block a police officer during an arrest demonstrates the required intent. If the fireworks are used to cause property damage or to scare people without aiming to interfere with an officer, it would be a different offense.