LBPD photo

The items displayed at the press event (photos below) were in slickly designed, colorful packages, some in combinations titled "Panda Box" and "Tiger Box."

LBREPORT.com photo
LBREPORT.com photo
LBREPORT.com photo

[Scroll down for further.]

Some items were labelled "Festival Balls" and "Artillery Shells."

LBREPORT.com photo

The package instructions for the "Artillery Shells and "Festival Balls" explain: "Warning: Shoots Flaming Balls. Use only under close adult supervision. For outdoor use only. Place launcher upright on hard, smooth surface. Unwrap long fuse on ball. Put shell into tube with flat end down and with fuse extending out of tube. Do not hold in hand. Light fuse and get away."

LBREPORT.com photo

One box contained what appeared to be mortar style launchable rockets. LBREPORT.com photo

Its "Performance Description" stated: "High output silver tails to multicolored pearls or palms and silver or green glitter. Two HO shots of silver tails to red glitter and brocade, and then a two-shot HO finale of silver tails to red glittering willow and crackling. 14 shots."

The items displayed in the photos above (and about a dozen other items we viewed at the press event) included labels indicating: "Consumer Fireworks UN0336 1.4G" and "Made in China."

LB officials at the press event emphasized, and re-emphasized, that "All fireworks are illegal in Long Beach." Police Chief Luna said the community should be mindful that "when they purchase fireworks from unauthorized sources such as this, they are essentially putting money in to the pockets of street gangs and supporting their illicit activities."

Sponsor

Sponsor

It's speculative whether all of some of the June 26 seized goods may have entered Long Beach through the Ports of Long Beach and/or Los Angeles. Such items are illegal for consumers statewide in CA but are legal in some other states.

For weeks, residents of LB's Wrigley neighborhood (within eyeshot of the Port) have used social networks to decry the repeated detonation of neighborhood jarring fireworks, often describing their general location although the perpetrators manage to slip away into the night. Last year's July 4th in Long Beach was marked by what residents in multiple neighborhoods described as a near-"warzone" [their frequent term] of aerial bombs and ground-based explosives (items illegal under both LB and state law.)

Sponsor

In the year following LB voter-approval of a June 2016 sales tax increase ballot measure, the Council has voted to restore a total of 17 budgeted officers out of 208 officers erased since FY10. Starting on July 1, overtime from a dozen current citywide deployable officers will be allocated to provide contracted police services to Metro for its Blue Line trains in Long Beach.

As July 4th approaches, LB officials have amped-up their message that "all fireworks are illegal in Long Beach" with neighborhood yard signs, community outreach efforts and City Hall website and social network postings. At the same time, LBPD has aggressively targeted alleged sellers of fireworks, working to intercept and disrupt the supply chain and resulting in a number of successful high visibility arrests in recent days.

LB's city ordinance banning all fireworks within LB city limits (including state-labelled "safe and sane" devices sold in nearby cities) is a misdemeanor, meaning an LBPD officer must personally witness the person committing the offense to make a lawful arrest...unless a third-party witness attests in writing (on an LBPD form under penalty of perjury) to what he/she observed and agrees to appear in court to testify (enabling the officer to make the physical arrest.)

Sponsor

Sponsor

In its June 27 release, LBPD states:

[LBPD release text] In efforts to impact the illegal possession, sales, and usage of fireworks, the City of Long Beach launched an education and prevention campaign to raise awareness that ALL fireworks, including those classified as "Safe and Sane" are illegal in the City of Long Beach.

In response to community concerns, firework enforcement has become a top priority for the City, City Council, and the Police and Fire Departments. At a joint LBPD and LBFD news conference held today, Mayor Robert Garcia spoke about the City's efforts to impact illegal possession, sales, and usage of fireworks in the City of Long Beach.

Illegal fireworks enforcement is very challenging for law enforcement, as violations cannot be enforced if they are not witnessed by an officer. To address the community concerns, new enforcement strategies were implemented, and the LBPD changed its tactics, shifting its focus from not only the users, but to the suppliers.

In the last week and a half, the LBPD conducted several investigations throughout the City, relating to the illegal possession and sales of fireworks. These investigations resulted in numerous arrests and citations being issued, the confiscation of several thousand pounds of high-powered fireworks, and the seizure of over $45,000 in U.S. currency, two loaded handguns, ammunition, and significant quantities of what is believed to be marijuana, cocaine, heroin and PCP.

In the most recent investigation, which occurred last night, Monday, June 26, 2017, at approx. 7:50 p.m., officers from the North Division Directed Enforcement Team responded to a residence in the 1800 block of East 57th Street regarding a report of fireworks being sold from the location. Officers obtained and served a search warrant, and confiscated over 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, with an approximate street value of $30,000, that were being sold from a makeshift storefront set-up in the garage. U.S. currency and PCP was also seized during the investigation. Four minors, ages 5, 8, 10 & 17, were also found in the home and were turned over to the Department of Children & Family Services. Due to the large quantity of high-powered fireworks at the scene, LBFD responded to take control of them.

Three individuals were taken into custody and are all being held at the Long Beach City Jail. They have been identified as follows:

NAME	GENDER	AGE	RESIDENCE	CHARGE
Darius Bo	Male	24	Long Beach	Poss of dangerous fireworks	$20,000
Sreypeur Say	Female	29	Long Beach	Poss of dangerous fireworks	$20,000
Armand Moore	Male	36	Los Angeles	Poss for sales of PCP	$30,000

Through investigations, it has been learned that suspects arrested for fireworks violations are often times gang members. Both male suspects arrested in the 6/26/17 incident were documented gang members. Stated Police Chief Robert Luna, "The community needs to understand that when they purchase fireworks from unauthorized sources such as this, they are essentially putting money in to the pockets of street gangs and supporting their illicit activities."

The City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Police and Fire Departments want to remind the community that not only is the purchase and use of fireworks in the City of Long Beach illegal and irresponsible, it is dangerous. On the 4th of July last year, a 17-year-old young man lost part of his hand after an incident involving the use of illegal fireworks.

The multi-faceted approach involving all City departments to address the fireworks related issues and concerns will continue in hopes of preventing tragic incidents such as this in the future. Fire Deputy Chief Richard Brandt stated, "We'll continue to do our part as public safety agencies, and it's not just Police and Fire, it's Public Works, libraries, it's all our City department's working together to make this a safe city."

All residents and visitors celebrating the 4th of July are encouraged to celebrate the holiday in a safe and responsible manner. Violators will be cited and/or arrested and may face a $1,000 fine, sentenced to jail for six months, or both. The fines and penalties may increase depending on the fireworks' classification.

Fireworks may be voluntarily disposed of at collection bins located at all fire stations, Lifeguard Headquarters from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (2100 E. Ocean Boulevard, on the West side of the Junipero lot), or any police station.

If you or your neighbor would like flyers, posters, or yard signs to post in your home/neighborhood you can pick them up at Fire Headquarters (3205 Lakewood Blvd.) starting June 12, 2017 to July 3, 2017 from 7:30am-4:30pm or at the Neighborhood Resource Center (100 W. Broadway, Suite 550) starting June 12, 2017 to July 3, 2017 from 8:00am-5:00pm. You can also call and reserve them from the Neighborhood Resource Center at (562) 570-1010.

If anyone is aware of someone selling fireworks, or see someone using them, they are urged to call Police Communications at (562) 435-6711 or 9-1-1. Those wishing to report anonymously can submit tips through -- LA Crime Stoppers -- by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Sponsor