Long Beach Police Seize More than 1K Pounds of Illegal Fireworks

Police in Long Beach this week seized more than 1,000 pounds of fireworks worth an estimated $10,000 and arrested three men in separate cases, it was announced today.

The seizures on Wednesday came amid investigations into the sale of illegal fireworks in the city, according to Long Beach police.

After finding an online ad offering illegal fireworks for sale, officers responded to the area of Long Beach and Artesia boulevards and arrested Erik Alvarado-Ramirez, 24, of Compton on suspicion of fireworks-related offenses, police said.

"Several mortars and other fireworks weighing approximately 100 pounds were seized," according to a police statement.

A short time later, officers located another online ad, which led them to a shopping center in the area of Spring Street and Atlantic Avenue, where suspect Julio Flores, 25, of Pico Rivera was allegedly selling fireworks from his vehicle, police said.

"A subsequent search of his vehicle turned up high-powered fireworks, including mortars, a mortar tube and several large boxes of miscellaneous fireworks, totaling approximately 200 pounds," police said.

Also on Wednesday, officers confiscated 715 pounds of fireworks during a traffic stop and search of a nearby residence in the area of 72nd Street and Orange Avenue, police said, adding that the seized fireworks in that case had a value of over $8,800.

The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Sergio Guerrero of Long Beach, according to Long Beach police.