Deputies from the Compton Sheriff's Station Special Assignment Team received information that illegal and highly dangerous fireworks were being stored and sold from a home in the City of Compton.
Deputies gathered additional information from a confidential reliable informant (CRI). This pertinent information made it possible to obtain a search warrant for the duplex home on the 1100 block of East Pine Street, Compton.
On July 3, 2012, at about 8:30AM, Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies executed the search warrant at the home.
Deputies found a large amount of illegal and highly dangerous fireworks inside the detached garage of the home. The entire garage was converted into a firework stand and opened for business. Inside the garage were several closed and unsealed boxes of illegal fireworks. The fireworks recovered consisted of skyrockets, mortars, pyrotechnics, and explosives.
Deputies also recovered, inside the home, a reported stolen firearm and approximately $30,000 in U.S. currency. The reported firearm belonged to an officer at Long Beach Police Department.
Six women and two men were detained. The two men were arrested.
Sheriff's Arson / Explosives investigators and Los Angeles County Fire Department were immediately notified of the fireworks seizure. The Los Angeles County Fire department took possession of the illegal fireworks and properly disposed of them. The weight of the fireworks was estimated at about 6,500 pounds and a street value of over $15,000.00.
One suspect was arrested for several offenses including possession of an explosive device, selling fireworks without a proper permit.
The other suspect was arrested for receiving stolen property, stolen firearm.
Both suspects were transported to and booked at the LASD Century Regional Detention Facility. The criminal case against both suspects will be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.
The six females who were detained at the house were later released after determining they had no criminal involvement.
This was the third major seizure of illegal dangerous fireworks by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department this week.
Members of the public are reminded about the seriousness of possessing illegal fireworks and are encouraged to report such activity to their local law enforcement agency.
If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Watch Commander at Compton Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (310) 605-6500. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website.
