Illegal Fireworks Bust in Torrance |
TORRANCE -- Authorities serving search warrants in Torrance and Redondo Beach found huge stockpiles of illegal fireworks, valued at about $150,000.
Brian Flanigan, 40, of Torrance, was arrested about 10 p.m. Tuesday, and Patrick German, 39, of Redondo Beach, was arrested about 2:30 Wednesday morning, said Redondo Beach police Sgt. Phil Keenan.
Both men were booked for illegal possession of explosives, Keenan said. Flanigan was behing held on $2.5 million bail, and German bail was set at $200,000.
Police Wednesday allegedly found large amount of fireworks at Flanigan's residence in the 1600 block of Beach Avenue in Torrance. The location of the Tuesday raid in Redondo Beach was not released.
Redondo Beach police said received an anonymous tip about the fireworks Tuesday afternoon.
Officials from the Torrance Police Department, the Redondo Beach Police Department and the Redondo Beach Fire Department were on the scene of the Torrance bust. The fire department was called because the large cache of fireworks posed a major explosion risk.
Authorities were making an inventory of the confiscated fireworks before taking them away from the scene. They found several thousand pounds of fireworks imported from China, along with explosive devices such as M80's and quarter sticks that the resident was allegedly manufacturing. Those devices are based on black powder and fuses, according to Redondo Beach Fire Bat. Chief Steve Hynk.
Hynk said over 400 lbs. of black powder were contained in the fireworks found in the back of the home.
Some weapons were also found during the investigation.
Had there been an accident, the fireworks would have leveled the home and possibly surrounding residences, according to Hynk.
Hynk said a joint fireworks task force for the South Bay cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance and El Segundo has been created. On July 3rd and 4th, authorities there will deploy vehicles throughout the South Bay policing specifically for fireworks calls.
Brian Flanigan, 40, of Torrance, was arrested about 10 p.m. Tuesday, and Patrick German, 39, of Redondo Beach, was arrested about 2:30 Wednesday morning, said Redondo Beach police Sgt. Phil Keenan.
Both men were booked for illegal possession of explosives, Keenan said. Flanigan was behing held on $2.5 million bail, and German bail was set at $200,000.
Police Wednesday allegedly found large amount of fireworks at Flanigan's residence in the 1600 block of Beach Avenue in Torrance. The location of the Tuesday raid in Redondo Beach was not released.
Redondo Beach police said received an anonymous tip about the fireworks Tuesday afternoon.
Officials from the Torrance Police Department, the Redondo Beach Police Department and the Redondo Beach Fire Department were on the scene of the Torrance bust. The fire department was called because the large cache of fireworks posed a major explosion risk.
Authorities were making an inventory of the confiscated fireworks before taking them away from the scene. They found several thousand pounds of fireworks imported from China, along with explosive devices such as M80's and quarter sticks that the resident was allegedly manufacturing. Those devices are based on black powder and fuses, according to Redondo Beach Fire Bat. Chief Steve Hynk.
Hynk said over 400 lbs. of black powder were contained in the fireworks found in the back of the home.
Some weapons were also found during the investigation.
Had there been an accident, the fireworks would have leveled the home and possibly surrounding residences, according to Hynk.
Hynk said a joint fireworks task force for the South Bay cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance and El Segundo has been created. On July 3rd and 4th, authorities there will deploy vehicles throughout the South Bay policing specifically for fireworks calls.
