ILLEGAL FIREWORKS OPERATION 

“Over the past two weeks, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Persons Unit, Special Victims Unit, and Narcotics Investigations Unit conducted an undercover operation regarding the sale and possession of illegal fireworks in Kern County.

During the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the Sheriff’s Office seized a total of 4,392 lbs of illegal fireworks, as well as more than $4,000 in currency tied to the sales of illegal fireworks.

Felix Romero, age 42, of Bakersfield was arrested on criminal charges related to the sale and possession of illegal fireworks, and received a Kern County Administrative Citation for fireworks possession. Ernesto Torres, age 41, of Bakersfield received a Kern County Administrative Citation for fireworks possession, and is pending criminal charges submitted to the District Attorney’s Office.

The Kern County Fire Department is handling the disposal of the illegal fireworks.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the community members who celebrated Independence Day safely and responsibly.”