OAKLAND — Earlier than July 4th annually, undercover law enforcement officials take to the streets and the web in quest of firework sellers.
Felony expenses have adopted. In San Leandro, a 24-year-old man was charged with promoting fireworks out of his automobile’s trunk. In Oakland, a 35-year-old man was charged with possessing and manufacturing assault weapons, after police raided his house throughout a web-based fireworks investigation. In Livermore, an 18-year-old man was charged with possessing 258 kilos of fireworks in his bed room following an undercover investigation, courtroom information present.
Hyphy Mini Mart, in the meantime, was raided however police didn’t report discovering fireworks. As a substitute, they discovered packs of hashish, flavored tobacco and an assault pistol, in line with courtroom information. In addition they cleaned $95 from the shop’s money register in the course of the raid.
California legislation permits for “safe and sane” fireworks however not these deemed “dangerous,” together with gadgets that launch fireworks into the air, even supposing these things are authorized in different components of the nation. This yr, Californians celebrated July 4th on the heels of a tragic explosion within the Bay Space-adjacent group of Esparto, the place seven folks have been killed when an allegedly unpermitted fireworks warehouse blew up.
The legislation enforcement operations are finished alongside pubic campaigns to dissuade folks from taking pictures off their very own fireworks. However annually’s efforts hardly appear to make a dent; each July 4th the skies of the East Bay mild up with colourful blasts all night time regardless of all of it.
Initially Revealed: July 29, 2025 at 12:55 PM PDT
