A 23-year-old Riverside resident is facing felony charges after authorities seized more than 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and 100 homemade destructive devices from his home.
The seizure was announced Tuesday, June 25, during a news conference by the city of Riverside to highlight the dangers of fireworks. Fireworks of all varieties — including those labeled safe and sane — are illegal in the city. The explosions can touch off fires and injure revelers.
Officials urged residents to attend one of the free public displays of fireworks on July 4, scheduled for Mt. Rubidoux and La Sierra Park, instead of setting off their own.
The Riverside police bomb squad received a tip that a Clifton Boulevard resident was selling fireworks, said Officer Ryan Railsback, a Police Department spokesman. He said the man advertised them on online marketplaces using coded messages. For instance, he would advertise a legal gaming console but the picture would show the console next to a package of illegal fireworks.
Police, fire investigators and the state Fire Marshal served a search warrant and found the fireworks on racks on a covered patio, Railsback said.
Related Articles
California police offer details of probe into seizure of 75 tons of illegal fireworks
Authorities seize more than 75 tons of illegal fireworks in one of California’s largest-ever such busts
25+ Bay Area Fourth of July fireworks displays for 2024
Fourth of July Fireworks Festival planned at Almaden Lake Park
Milpitas celebrates July 4 with ‘Red, White and BOOM!’
They were the type sold legally in some states but not in California, launching colorful, explosive fireworks into the air. The boxes featured familiar names and designs: Hulk, Transformers and Donald in a Foul Mood, the latter showing a glowering Donald Duck. And then there was one set named Wanted Dead or Alive. Another box had 100 mortars that could be launched with a single fuse.
Additionally, there were 100 explosives made in the style of M-80s, Railsback said.
Fire Chief Michael Moore warned that these were especially dangerous.
“With no quality control, there is no way to know how long the fuse will be,” Moore said. “You don’t know how quickly it’s going to explode.”
The suspect was booked on suspicion of possession of more than 100 pounds of fireworks, possession of destructive devices, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a short-barreled rifle and child endangerment, according to the county jail log.
Railsback said a child lives in the house.
“Anybody who lives at this house could have easily accessed these,” Railsback said.
The suspect was released after posting $35,000 bail. He had not been charged as of June 27.
Confiscated fireworks are turned over to the state Fire Marshal for destruction, Railsback said.
