(DEERFIELD BEACH, FL) — Violent Crimes detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office are searching for the person or persons who threw a lit road flare at a marked patrol vehicle on Sunday.

A deputy sheriff was inside the car at around 1:30 AM and was parked on the side of the road with his emergency lights on to deter street racers along the 1000 block of West Hillsboro Blvd.

The deputy was alerted to smoke coming from the back of his car by a passerby and when he exited the vehicle he saw the rear passenger’s side tire was on fire.

Additional BSO units responded to the scene and the fire was extinguished by Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue.

The apprent cause of the fire was determined to be a road flare that had been thrown at the car.

No one was injured.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact Det. Kristina Luna at 954-321-4200 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.