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Illegal Firework Busts as of 6/12/14:
http://baldwinpark.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/lasd-bust-suspect-for-1760-pounds-of-illegal-fireworks-in-san-gabriel-valley-baldwinpark
LASD Bust Suspect for 1,760 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks in San Gabriel ValleyPosted by Michelle Mowad (Editor) , May 12, 2014 at 09:32 PM
Photo Courtesy: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
On Monday, May 11, at approximately 5 p.m., while patrolling the area of Merced Avenue and Remer Street, South El Monte, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Temple Sheriff’s Station saw the driver of a van perform an unsafe lane change and run a red light.
Deputies immediately conducted a traffic stop and discovered that the driver, Edwin Hernandez, a 28 year-old male resident of Wilmington, was driving on a suspended license and placed him under arrest.
Subsequent to Hernandez’ arrest, 22 cases of illegal fireworks, each of which weighed 80 pounds, were discovered in his van.
According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Arson Investigator Dahlmeier, the total amount of 1,760 pounds (nearly one ton) of illegal fireworks discovered in the van seen driving in an unsafe manner through the city of South El Monte was enough to blow a house off of its foundation.
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Hernandez was booked at Temple Sheriff’s Station for Possession of Illegal Fireworks For Sale, and is being held in lieu of $25,000.
LaCoFD Arson investigators took possession of the illegal fireworks and will be conducting the investigation.
—Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
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http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/11/2-women-arrested-after-authorities-find-275-pounds-of-illegal-fireworks-in-downtown-la-plaza/
2 Women Arrested After Authorities Find 250 Pounds Of Illegal Fireworks At Chinatown StoreJune 11, 2014 10:20 PM
EL MONTE (CBSLA.com) — El Monte police detectives arrested two women after seizing 250 pounds of illegal fireworks at a Chinatown store.Lana Sieu Ngu, 43, and Ngoc Pham, 45, were taken into custody during a raid of a shop at 828 Broadway, El Monte police Lt. Christopher Williams said.The suspects were expected to be booked on suspicion of possession of a destructive device and sale of explosives.Authorities were not as concerned with the size of the bust, but with the product that was being sold—M-1000 explosives.“Basically, an M-1000 is equated to about a quarter-stick of dynamite,” Williams said. “So you can imagine the amount of damage that could do.”Williams added, “In some cases, the people who sell this take no obligation or no understanding that they might be selling to somebody that doesn’t understand the level of damage it can cause.”The fireworks bust was part of a larger operation by El Monte police, who last week seized 22 tons of illegal fireworks from a warehouse in Gardena.“We’re not over. It’s going to continue until the Fourth of July,” Williams said.KCAL9’s Kristine Lazar reports that the fireworks are made in China and imported to the U.S.(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/04/6-in-custody-after-seizure-of-18-tons-of-illegal-fireworks-in-gardena/
6 In Custody After Seizure Of 18 Tons Of Illegal Fireworks In GardenaJune 4, 2014 10:13 AM
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(credit: El Monte Police Department)
GARDENA (CBSLA.com) — Six people were in custody Wednesday in connection with the seizure of about 18 tons of illegal fireworks found in a Gardena warehouse, police said.El Monte police investigating the sale and distribution of illegal fireworks were led Tuesday to the warehouse in the 13000 block of Halldale Avenue in Gardena, where they served a search warrant and discovered dozens of boxes of contraband fireworks.Gardena police and the Los Angeles County Fire Department assisted with the investigation.
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http://www.templecitytribune.com/current-news/temple-city-deputies-bust-suspect-for-nearly-one-ton-of-illegal-fireworks-possession/
Temple City Deputies Bust Suspect for Nearly One Ton of Illegal Fireworks Possession
On Monday, May 11, 2014, at approximately 5:00 p.m., while patrolling the area of Merced Avenue and Remer Street, South El Monte, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Temple Sheriff’s Station saw the driver of a van perform an unsafe lane change and run a red light.Deputies immediately conducted a traffic stop and discovered that the driver, Edwin Hernandez, a 28 year-old male resident of Wilmington, was driving on a suspended license and placed him under arrest.Subsequent to Hernandez’ arrest, 22 cases of illegal fireworks, each of which weighed 80 pounds, were discovered in his van.According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LaCoFD), Arson Investigator Dahlmeier, the total amount of 1,760 pounds (nearly one ton) of illegal fireworks discovered in the van seen driving in an unsafe manner through the city of South El Monte was enough to blow a house off of its foundation.Hernandez was booked at Temple Sheriff’s Station for Possession of Illegal Fireworks For Sale, and is being held in lieu of $25,000.LaCoFD Arson investigators took possession of the illegal fireworks and will be conducting the investigation.Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Arson Investigator Dahlmeier at (626) 433-1011. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
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http://www.coronadelmartoday.com/42387/home/authorities-detain-juvenile-in-illegal-fireworks-case/
Authorities Detain Juvenile in Illegal Fireworks CasePOSTED: APRIL 14TH, 2014 02:23 PM |0NO COMMENTS
A Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators used CraigsList to track illegal fireworks to a Newport Beach house over the weekend, according to a news release. Officials also detailed a 15-year-old Newport Beach boy for possession of illegal fireworks on Sunday, the release said.
“After the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) Arson Unit arrested an illegal fireworks manufacturer in Glendora, CA, subsequent investigation lead them to a Craigslist ad showing similar illegal fireworks for sale in the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa area,” the release said. “Undercover personnel from LACoFD contacted the seller and arranged a meeting for a ‘buy-and-bust’ operation.”
The Newport Beach Police Department, the Newport Beach Fire Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Bomb Squad assisted, the release said.
“Within hours, these public safety agencies seized over 51 pounds of illegal fireworks from a residence on King’s Road,” the release said. Investigators also found other “destructive explosive devices” that they seized from a home on Residencia. The devices included two M-80s, four M-1000s and 20 M-5000s — also known as quarter sticks and half sticks.
The 15-year-old was released to the custody of his parents.
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http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25934732/san-jose-police-father-arrested-after-10-year
San Jose police: Father arrested after 10-year-old boy mangles hand with fireworksBy Robert Salonga
POSTED: 06/10/2014 09:25:31 AM PDT8 COMMENTS| UPDATED: 3 DAYS AGO
SAN JOSE -- A 10-year-old San Jose boy was hospitalized and his father arrested after the child got hold of a fireworks stash and mangled his hand, in what police are holding up as a tragic example of having illegal pyrotechnics.
The instance that drew police attention occurred around 7 p.m. Friday at a home on Lewis Road, between Monterey and Senter Roads, when a family member reported that the boy had ignited fireworks in a bedroom. The explosion inflicted "major trauma" to his hand and sent him to the hospital, where he is expected to survive, police said.
After the explosion, responding officers from San Jose police found 14 pounds of fireworks inside the home, said spokeswoman Sgt. Heather Randol. The injured boy's father was arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment and misdemeanor possession of illegal fireworks.
The 39-year-old father has not been identified to protect the privacy of the juvenile victim.
Without a pyrotechnics permit, it is illegal to possess any form of fireworks in the city of San Jose, Randol said. The boy's injury should serve as a stern warning given the expected purchase and use of fireworks in advance of the Fourth of July holiday, police said.
"We want residents to be aware of the danger of having and using fireworks at home," Randol said.
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She added San Jose residents will have access to a series of city-sponsored fireworks displays revolving around Independence Day.
"There are safe fireworks activities that will be happening in the city," Randol said.
It was not immediately clear where the fireworks in Friday's accident came from, or what kind of grade they were. The case remains under investigation.
According to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 200 people in the United States go to emergency rooms for fireworks accidents each day during the month surrounding the Fourth of July holiday, with 20 percent of them age 10 and under. Hands and fingers are the most-injured body part, accounting for 41 percent of fireworks-related injuries, according to CPSC figures.
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http://www.losangelesregister.com/articles/fireworks-599509-fire-monterey.html
25 tons of illegal fireworks seized from Monterey Park warehouseBy ALYSSA DURANTY /STAFF WRITER
May 16, 2014
Updated 6:14 p.m.
By ALYSSA DURANTY / STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY PARK – Fire officials have confiscated 25 tons of illegal fireworks, possibly the largest seizure of illegal fireworks in the city’s history, officials said.
Monterey Park Fire Department discovered the fireworks in boxes labeled “Made in China” after an anonymous tip led them to a warehouse May 9 in the 900 block of Monterey Pass Road.
Monterey Park Fire Marshal Randy Harper said the business was selling fireworks that ranged from party popper types to illegal and unsafe models.
“The fireworks, even the ones that were “Safe and Sane,” didn’t have the appropriate seal from the State Fire Marshal office,” Harper said. “The building wasn’t permitted and didn’t have proper fire systems to sell fireworks.”
The bulk of the fireworks are models that would be usually legal to sell in the city between June 28 and July 4 if they were properly permitted.
Fire authorities hauled the fireworks away on seven tractor trailers to state-approved firework collection sites outside the city. They will be held there as evidence.
No arrests were made as of Friday.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
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http://www.kionrightnow.com/news/local-news/nearly-2000-pounds-of-illegal-fireworks-seized-in-undercover-sting/26495736
Nearly 2,000 pounds of illegal fireworks seized in undercover stingPolice say man was selling them on FacebookChaas Toborg, Newscast Producer, [email protected]
POSTED: 05:39 PM PDT Jun 14, 2014 UPDATED: 05:51 PM PDT Jun 14, 2014 Print
SALINAS, Calif. -Salinas Police say a tip from a concerned citizen led them to one massive bust.
MORE FROM CENTRAL COAST NEWS
Illegal fireworks cause confusion during East Salinas... Salinas keeps officer-involved shooting names under wraps 2 day contractor’s sting in Seaside nets 12 for fraud Attempted homicide investigation in Salinas Sting operation nets 12 arrests for illegal contracting...
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Officers were led to 33-yaer-old Daniel Escatel Alcocer by a report that he posted photos of nearly 1,800 pounds of illegal fireworks on his Facebook page. He allegedly listed them as being for sale out of the Towt Street home he lived in.
An undercover officer arranged a deal to purchase them. He showed up to find the fireworks, valued at around $20,000 on the street, stashed in an illegal shed behind the house. Fire crews say that poses another big threat.
"Maybe the electrical is not done up to code or maybe its not structurally sound." said Battalion Chief Brett Loomus with Salinas Fire. "So if you have a fire that starts in that structure, now you have all those fireworks that are detonating. Had that occurred in this structure, there would have been multiple homes in that neighborhood damaged or destroyed."
Police say that selling the illegal fireworks on Facebook is a crime in itself. Alcocer now faces those charges along with several other misdemeanors and a felony count of selling illegal fireworks.
The sting was carried out by a Department of Justice task force comprised of Salinas Police, Monterey County Sheriff's Deputies and CHP officers. They say they're aware of several other suspects.
Salinas Police and fire say they patrol for illegal fireworks for the two weeks before and after the July 4th holiday. Anyone caught with illegal fireworks can face steep fines and can be arrested.
Copyright © 2014, KION. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
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http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/28/6360121/pre-fourth-of-july-fireworks-arrest.html
Pre-Fourth of July fireworks arrest by Sacramento policeBy Bill [email protected]
Published: Monday, Apr. 28, 2014 - 9:17 am
It’s more than two months before the Fourth of July, but Sacramento police say that a motorist was driving around Sunday morning with illegal fireworks.
Police said that about 8 a.m. Sunday they stopped Lloyd Gonzales, 24, who was driving near Blair Avenue and Freeport Boulevard, across from Executive Airport. Once stopped, they found he had illegal fireworks. The department bomb squad was called in as a precaution.
Gonzales was arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal fireworks, according to a police activity report.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/28/6360121/pre-fourth-of-july-fireworks-arrest.html#storylink=cpy
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http://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/articles/2014/06/23/news/doc53a88dd4e6b4a371408638.txt
Fontana officers seize thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks; three people are arrested
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Thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks were seized by Fontana Police Department officers recently. (Contributed photo by Fontana Police Department)Published: Monday, June 23, 2014 1:32 PM PDT
Police seized thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks during recent investigations which resulted in the arrests of three people, according to the Fontana Police Department.
From June 12 through June 18, the P.D.'s Rapid Response Team began investigations into the sales of illegal fireworks through
Craig's List ads and other sources. During this period, five adults and one juvenile were arrested and/ or cited for a variety of charges related to the illegal sale and/or distribution of illegal fireworks.
"The Fontana Police Department takes a zero tolerance approach to the sale and possession of illegal fireworks, " said Fontana Police spokesperson Martha Guzman-Hurtado. "Officers will be deployed in full force before, during and after the July 4 holiday enforcing firework violations."
In separate incidents, police arrested 49-year-old Clyde French from Victorville, 24-year-old Johnny Castro from Chino and 21-year-old Anthony Viramontes from Fontana. The suspects were booked into the West Valley Detention Center on felony charges related to the sale and /or possession of illegal fireworks.
In addition, two adults and one juvenile were issued Fontana municipal code citations as a result of these investigations, with potential fines ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
In total, it is estimated that between $12,000 and $15,000 in illegal fireworks were seized. Additionally, two firearms, an illegally modified high-capacity magazine and more than 500 rounds of ammunition were confiscated.
All illegal fireworks were turned over to the San Bernardino County Fire Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's Bomb Unit for destruction.
For information, residents can contact the City of Fontana's illegal fireworks information line at (909) 356-7101.
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http://www.sddt.com/News/article.cfm?SourceCode=20140620cf&_t=10+tons+of+fireworks+seized+at+LA+County+business#.U6ifpblOXcs
10 tons of fireworks seized at LA County businessShare on facebook Share on twitter Share on print Share on email More Sharing Services 0
Friday, June 20, 2014
PICO RIVERA, Calif. (AP) -- Police have seized some 10 tons of illegal fireworks from a Los Angeles County metal shop business. El Monte police said in a statement that detectives received a tip about illegal fireworks being sold at Thomas Brothers Tube Bending in nearby Pico Rivera. They raided the building Thursday and seized the fireworks from a trailer and storage containers. Police say the estimated street value is at least $100,000. Lt. Chris Williams says customers walked up to try to buy fireworks even as detectives were dismantling the operation. The metal shop owner and an employee were arrested. Their names were not released and no one at the business could be reached for comment.
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http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/19/craigslist-ad-helps-oc-police-seize-560-pounds-of-illegal-fireworks/
Craigslist Ad Helps OC Police Seize 560 Pounds Of Illegal FireworksJune 19, 2014 11:55 PM Share on email 15 View Comments
Related Tags:Illegal Fireworks, Pico Rivera, Raid, Santa Ana, Seizure, Sting
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com/AP) — A Craigslist ad led investigators Thursday to a Santa Ana garage, where they seized up to $10,000 in illegal fireworks.
Undercover agents responded to the post advertising fireworks and were directed to a garage in the 1100 block of West Stanford Street, police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Police arrested the resident on suspicion of possessing illegal fireworks and the explosives were seized, Bertagna said.
The stockpile weighed about 560 pounds and was worth between $5,000 and $10,000, he said.
Thursday’s bust was the first in Santa Ana this season and investigators plan many more.
OC Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi says the fireworks were purchased from outside the country.
“These were the dangerous explosives, the kinds that blow hands off,” Concialdi said.
The fire chief says they’re going after unregulated fireworks because they often have quick fuses that lead to dangerous accidents. He says crews responded to 39 serious injuries last year.
Officials also worry that setting off fireworks can cause fires.
Residents were urged to not buy illegal fireworks and to instead attend public firework displays. To find an OC fireworks event near you, call (714) 573-6225.
Police in El Monte also made an explosives seizure Thursday, confiscating some 10 tons of illegal fireworks from a Pico Rivera metal shop business. Officers acting on a tip raided Thomas Brothers Tube Bending and obtained at least $100,000 worth of fireworks.
Lt. Chris Williams says customers walked up to try to buy fireworks even as detectives were dismantling the operation.
The metal shop owner and an employee were arrested. Their names were not released and no one at the business could be reached for comment.
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(TM and ©Copyright 2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/06/illegal_fireworks_santa_ana_costa_mesa.php
Crime-iny
Illegal Fireworks That Would Startle Isis Terrorists Seized in Santa Ana and Costa MesaBy Matt Coker Fri., Jun. 20 2014 at 1:41 PM
Courtesy of Santa Ana Police Department
Some of the illegal fireworks seized in Santa Ana Thursday.
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Heck, we haven't even made it to July (let alone the Fourth) and already cops in Santa Ana and Costa Mesa have made huge hauls of illegal fireworks.
On Thursday, undercover Santa Ana cops responding to a craigslist advertisement went to a residence in the 1100 block of West Stanford, where they posed as buyers. Police then seized 560 pounds of illegal fireworks worth up to $10,000, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, the department spokesman.
Someone living at the residence was arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal fireworks, Bertagna added. Police officers took the fireworks cache to an Orange County Fire Authority facility in Anaheim for destruction.
Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Conciald called the fireworks "extremely dangerous."
Courtesy of Santa Ana Police Department
More of the fireworks seized on West Stanford.
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"These were the dangerous explosives, the kinds that blow hands off," Concialdi told City News Service, noting those types of fireworks are acquired from outside the country, often unregulated and have quick fuses.
The fire authority, which last year responded to 39 serious injuries, recently held a news conference with Orange County sheriff's officials to stress only safe and sane fireworks should be used in areas where they are allowed. Those authorities also echoed the recent statements of state fire officials who warned the public our long drought has set us up for a horrible wildfire season.
Santa Ana residents are encouraged to attend public displays of fireworks, which they can find the locations of by calling 714.573.6225.
The same day of the Santa Ana seizure, cops in neighboring Costa Mesa we called shortly before 8 p.m. to the parking lot behind Newport Liquor, 2200 Newport Blvd., where a man was allegedly selling fireworks out of a red pick-up truck with a U-Haul trailer attached to it.
Photos courtesy of Costa Mesa Police Department
Antonio Arellano was arrested for allegedly selling illegal fireworks to kids.
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Officers met with Antonio Arellano near his red Dodge Durango (with attached trailer) and discovered the 51-year-old was selling illegal fireworks to local minors, according to a Costa Mesa Police Department statement. He was later arrested and booked into Orange County Jail in Santa Ana (although I don't know if he was stuck in a cell with the previous arrestee).
Arellano had purchased more than 500 pounds of illegal fireworks for $2,000 in Pahrump, Nevada, before bringing them to Orange County to sell, according to Costa Mesa police. (Either Arellano got a screaming deal or the quality was less than the 560 pounds taken in Santa Ana, where Bertagna set the street value at between $5,000-$10,000.)
Costa Mesa fire investigators confiscated Arellano's truck and the attached trailer containing the fireworks. The 300 or so mortars, 300 aerial fireworks, 300 Roman candles, 3,600 bottle rockets, 40 large sky rockets, more than 600 M-150 type explosives, and over 11,000 firecrackers are set to be disposed of at 3 p.m. today at Costa Mesa Fire Station No. 4 at 2300 Placentia Ave., according to city officials.
The city previously announced that only "safe and sane" fireworks can be set off during certain hours July 2-4. (As a resident of the north part of the city, I can tell you we've had foundation-shaking blasts going on just about nightly for the past three weeks.)
On the next page is what police and fire officials say they removed from Arellano's trailer and another shot from the Santa Ana case ...
Photos courtesy of Costa Mesa Police Department
Think of the number of illegal fireworks' shows averted.
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Courtesy of Santa Ana Police Department
Some illegal fireworks were even packaged like what you'll find at legal fireworks' stands.
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Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @MatthewTCoker. Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook!
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http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/10712895d86341a28b5bb0a047ad0f66/CA--Fireworks-Seized
10 tons of fireworks seized, 2 arrested at Los Angeles County metal shop business
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: June 19, 2014 - 9:55 pmLast Updated: June 19, 2014 - 9:58 pm
A A A
PICO RIVERA, California — Police have seized some 10 tons of illegal fireworks from a Los Angeles County metal shop business.
El Monte police said in a statement that detectives received a tip about illegal fireworks being sold at Thomas Brothers Tube Bending in nearby Pico Rivera.
They raided the building Thursday and seized the fireworks from a trailer and storage containers. Police say the estimated street value is at least $100,000.
Lt. Chris Williams says customers walked up to try to buy fireworks even as detectives were dismantling the operation.
The metal shop owner and an employee were arrested. Their names were not released and no one at the business could be reached for comment.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fireworks-624298-police-santa.html
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Illegal fireworks seized in Santa Ana STAFF AND NEWS SERVICE REPORT Published: June 19, 2014 Updated: June 20, 2014 4:38 p.m.
SANTA ANA Santa Ana police seized up to $10,000 in fireworks Thursday through an undercover sting of a seller on Craigslist.
Investigators responded to a Craigslist ad and met with someone who directed police to a garage in the 1100 block of West Stanford Street on Thursday afternoon, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. The resident was arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal fireworks and the explosives were seized, Bertagna said.
Police estimate that the fireworks are worth between $5,000 and $10,000, Bertagna said. It was the first such bust in Santa Ana this season, but investigators plan more, he added.
Orange County Fire Authority crews picked up the 562 pounds of fireworks, which Capt. Steve Concialdi described as “dangerous illegal explosives” that had been obtained out of the country. The fire authority planned to turn the explosives over to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad, which will destroy them.
Around this time last year, the fire authority responded to 39 reports of injuries related to both illegal and “safe and sane” fireworks.
“Kids think they are safe and they have a fuse, but they can detonate right away,” Concialdi said.
Elsewhere, Costa Mesa officers also spotted a man selling fireworks out of his truck near 22nd Street and Newport Boulevard shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday. They arrested the man, who claimed he had bought the $2,000 worth of fireworks in Nevada, Sgt. Matt Grimmond said.
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Also, about five tons of illegal fireworks were found at a Pico Rivera business Thursday and two people, one believed to be the business owner, were taken into custody.
The fireworks were located around 2:30 p.m. at Thomas Brothers Tube Bending at 4747 Citrus Drive, according to Lt. Chris Williams of the El Monte Police Department, which is handling the investigation. The names of those arrested in Pico Rivera were not released.
Contact the writer: City News Service and Staff Writer Sean Emery contributed to this report.
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http://abc7.com/news/10-tons-of-illegal-fireworks-seized-in-pico-rivera/125039/
10 tons of illegal fireworks seized in Pico Rivera; 2 arrested
Ten tons of illegal fireworks were seized Thursday in Pico Rivera and two people were arrested.
By Melissa MacBride
Thursday, June 19, 2014
PICO RIVERA, Calif. (KABC) --
Ten tons of illegal fireworks were seized Thursday in Pico Rivera and two people were arrested.
Hundreds of boxes of illegal fireworks were carted off by police.
A San Gabriel Valley fireworks task force had been investigating Pico Rivera company Thomas Brothers Tube Bending at 4747 Citrus Drive for several weeks. The owner and an employee were arrested.
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When authorities went to the property they discovered 10 tons of fireworks Thursday morning.
"We had stuff here in the warehouse, containers in the back, and then a couple trailers that were stacked with it, so we were just finding it all over the place," said L.A. County Fire Captain Tom Richards.
Police say word was already out on the street that this was the place to buy illegal fireworks.
"Our detectives were actually approached by several people, I think didn't realize they were detectives, attempting to buy fireworks from our detectives as they were basically dismantling this operation," said El Monte Police Lt. Christopher Williams.
The fireworks don't have a seal from the California State Fire Marshal and are not considered "Safe and Sane"-classified fireworks that are allowed in some California cities.
The fireworks confiscated are destructive and explosive devices based on their size under state law. Possessing them is a felony.
Firefighters say 95 percent of fireworks-related injuries come from these types of fireworks.
"Sometimes what they do is they hold them up against their leg like this and shoot them down a street or whatever, and it explodes out the back, and they've blown their leg off," said Fire Captain Richards.
The Fire Department said some of the fireworks may have come from Nevada, where they are legal. The street value of Thursday's haul is approximately $100,000, according to officials.
The investigation was ongoing.
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http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/11/2-women-arrested-after-authorities-find-275-pounds-of-illegal-fireworks-in-downtown-la-plaza/
2 Women Arrested After Authorities Find 250 Pounds Of Illegal Fireworks At Chinatown StoreJune 11, 2014 10:20 PM
Related Tags:Arrests, El Monte Police Department, Illegal Fireworks, Los Angeles, Saigon Plaza
EL MONTE (CBSLA.com) — El Monte police detectives arrested two women after seizing 250 pounds of illegal fireworks at a Chinatown store.
Lana Sieu Ngu, 43, and Ngoc Pham, 45, were taken into custody during a raid of a shop at 828 Broadway, El Monte police Lt. Christopher Williams said.
The women were expected to be booked on suspicion of possession of a destructive device and sale of explosives.
Authorities were not as concerned with the size of the bust but with the product that was being sold — M-1000 explosives.
“Basically, an M-1000 is equated to about a quarter-stick of dynamite,” Williams said. “So, you can imagine the amount of damage that could do.”
Williams added, “In some cases, the people who sell this take no obligation or no understanding that they might be selling to somebody that doesn’t understand the level of damage it can cause.”
The fireworks bust was part of a larger operation by El Monte police, who last week seized 22 tons of illegal fireworks from a warehouse in Gardena.
“We’re not over. It’s going to continue until the Fourth of July,” Williams said.
KCAL9’s Kristine Lazar reports that the fireworks are made in China and imported into the United States.
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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