Sting Operations Lead to Arrests and Confiscation of Illegal Fireworks
BRENTWOOD — Recent law enforcement operations involving illegal fireworks sales included a sting operation in Brentwood. More than 100 pounds of illegal fireworks were confiscated from this one arrest.
Undercover investigators from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) worked with Brentwood PD in this instance. Fireworks are illegal in Contra Costa County and arrests were also made in other communities nearby.
Contact was made with Gabriel Ramirez, 25 of Antioch, by Con Fire investigators. Ramirez purportedly offered them fireworks for sale, and he insisted on meeting at location within the city of Brentwood.
Authorities set up surveillance in the designated meeting place. After meeting with Ramirez, investigators confirmed illegal fireworks were being offered for sale. He was detained and he was subsequently arrested.
As part of the investigation, authorities learned there were more fireworks at the suspect’s home. His home was searched, and additional fireworks were confiscated from him.
Altogether, authorities seized 101 pounds of fireworks as evidence against Ramirez. He was subsequently issued a citation at the scene and immediately released.
Similar law enforcement actions resulted in hundreds of pounds of fireworks being removed from communities in Contra Costa County. Arrests were also made in Hercules and Pittsburg.
In neighboring Alameda County, similar operations also resulted in two arrests and confiscations of hundreds of pounds of fireworks in Newark.
