Newark police seize 600 pounds of illegal fireworks; two men arrested

Newark police seized about 600 pounds of illegal fireworks, thousands of dollars in cash, and arrested two men who were spotted selling the goods out of a van.

Undercover officers working illegal firework enforcement on Thursday evening saw the two men selling the fireworks near the 37000 block of Elm Street, police said.

“Officers quickly made contact” and arrested a 19-year-old man from Newark and a 53-year-old man from Pittsburg, police said in a statement early Sunday.

Because of the large amount of illegal fireworks that police categorized as “dangerous,” the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team was called out, and that unit “took possession of the illegal fireworks for safe transport and controlled disposal,” police said.

Police said they also seized more than $33,000 in cash.

Police said the men were arrested on suspicion of felony possession of destructive or explosive devices, illegal sales of dangerous fireworks, and possession of dangerous fireworks without a valid permit, and they were booked at Santa Rita Jail.

While some cities outright ban fireworks of any kind, Newark allows socalled safe and sane fireworks — a variety of items that emit light and color but don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers — to be sold by a limited number of authorized dealers who are associated with nonprofits.

Police said the safe and sane fireworks are only allowed to be used in the city between midnight June 30 through July 4.

Newark police also have a fireworks hotline for people can call if they want to report someone who is in possession, selling and/or lighting fireworks. The hotline number is 1-866-520-7233.