Full Notification

The San Leandro Police wish everyone a safe and enjoyable July 4th holiday.  To prevent the illegal use of fireworks in San Leandro, police have increased patrols to keep the city safe for all residents and visitors.  

A large seizure of illegal fireworks occurred on Tuesday night when police recovered more than 2,000 pounds (over 1 ton) of explosive fireworks. 

At 10:00PM, police were investigating two suspicious men at the Storquest Storage facility located at 1100 Davis St., after receiving a call reporting that the two men and their vehicle were inside of the locked gates of the closed business. 

Responding officers found the men, only identified as a 41 year-old Oakland resident and 51 year-old Fremont resident unloading boxes from a storage locker and loading them into a cargo van.  The officers discovered that the boxes and storage unit contained more than 2,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, including explosive, aerial fireworks that were capable of shooting 125 feet into the sky before exploding.  

The men, who police said were cooperative, were identified, interviewed and released from the scene, as investigators conduct further investigation, trying to determine where the explosives came from and where they were going to be used or sold.  When the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to the Alameda County District Attorney for charging.  

Some of the explosive fireworks recovered Tuesday night include:

• 5” XL “Barrel Bombs”
• 5-shot XL “Roman Candles”
• 1” Mini-Artillery Plastic Balls
• 192-shot, rapid fire “Barrage Candles”

Due to the excessive quantity of explosives recovered by police on Tuesday night, members of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad responded and took custody of the illegal fireworks, which will be disposed of in a safe manner.

“Although the display of fireworks on July 4th may be a tradition for many, they can be extremely dangerous,” stated Lt. Robert McManus.  “In years past, the use of fireworks has been the cause of several fires throughout the Bay Area, as well as the cause of serious injury to those who light them off.  The loud explosions are harmful to pets and animals.  Please refrain from using any fireworks, and notify police if you see anyone using them, where they are prohibited.” he said.

Police hope that everyone celebrates the holiday safely and responsibly.  As a reminder, ALL fireworks, even those deemed “safe and sane” are illegal in the City of San Leandro.    

Police encourage members of the public to contact them if they see people lighting off fireworks in cities where they are prohibited, and can provide the specific location and descriptions of those responsible for the illegal activity.  Please remember to be patient when speaking with public safety dispatchers, as calls to police communications centers will increase greatly during the holiday period, especially after dark.  
    
MEDIA UPDATES WILL BE MADE AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE

Please contact the San Leandro Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division with any information regarding this case or any other case at (510) 577-3230. 

Information may also be submitted anonymously by:

• Phone: Anonymous Crime Tips at (510) 577-3278
• Text Message:  Text “TipSLPolice” to 888777

For crime prevention tips, please visit the Police Department’s website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd or contact our Crime Prevention Unit at 510-577-3228.

Citizens play a critical role in creating a safe environment by observing and reporting any suspicious or criminal activity to the police.  The San Leandro Police Department recommends that citizens do not participate in any direct verbal or physical involvement with suspicious persons or those engaged in the commission of crimes. Personal safety of our community is paramount.  We encourage the San Leandro community to record the details of what they observe and to report those details to the police.  This type of community involvement and partnership has proven to be a very effective crime prevention tool.  Citizens act as the eyes and ears of the community first, and the extended eyes and ears of the San Leandro Police Department.  Thank you for being a force-multiplier in our efforts to provide professional police services and safety to the community.

PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION:

DATE / TIME OF RELEASE:  07/04/19 – 3:30PM

INCIDENTS:  More Than 1 Ton of Fireworks Seized by Police
 
PRESS RELEASE OFFICER:  Lt. Robert McManus

TELEPHONE: (510) 577-3232

EMAIL: [email protected]

DATE / TIME OF INCIDENT: 07/02/19 – 10:00PM

ARREST LOCATION(S): Storquest Storage - 1100 Davis St.