A South Florida woman is facing assault and battery charges after authorities say she sparked a riot at a Pompano Beach bowling alley.
Jhaniqua Sims, 25, was arrested Sunday at the Diamond Strike Lanes at 2200 N. Federal Highway after a large altercation involving as many as 30 people, according to a Broward Sheriff's office arrest report.
According to the report, a group that was with Sims got into a "large physical altercation" with another group, which included Kimberly Cherry.
Cherry told deputies she and her friends had been drinking and joking around and began to "give each other the finger" when a group that was bowling with children took offense, the report said.
The group asked them to stop, and a verbal altercation ensued. Cherry claimed Sims threw two full drinking glasses at her, striking her only with the contents, the report said.
As the two groups started to leave the bowling alley, the altercation continued. When a deputy arrived he saw Sims yelling and watched her pick up a metal chair and start swinging it at another person, the report said.
Sims put the chair down but ran back into the fray, striking Cherry in the face and head, the report said. The deputy was able to grab Sims and take her into custody.
The Boca Raton woman was charged with aggravated assault, inciting a riot, battery and disorderly conduct, the report said.
The deputy ordered the crown to disperse, but one of the men involved was also charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing after he refused to leave, the report said.
