Illegal fireworks seized
by TP staff
Jul 02, 2012 | 7992 views | 31 31 comments | 19 19 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Tracy Police examine the illegal fireworks discovered at a home of Hillview Drive Monday, July 2. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
Tracy Police examine the illegal fireworks discovered at a home of Hillview Drive Monday, July 2. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
Tracy police and fire department officials confiscated nearly 100 pounds of illegal fireworks form the home at 1941 Hillview Drive on Monday, July2.

Police, who acted on an anonymous tip, went to the home at about 3 p.m. and discovered the illegal fireworks in the garage.

For updates, check back at www.tracypress.com or in the Friday, July 6, print edition of the Tracy Press.

Share This Article |
similar stories

Police shut down Internet cafe for alleged gambling | 5 days ago by Glenn Moore

Dog fighting charges dropped | 27 days ago by Denise Ellen Rizzo

Tracy businessman charged with sale of bath salts, weapons | 12 days ago by Glenn Moore

Police raid Tracy business | 19 days ago by Glenn Moore

Shelter hits milestone | 26 days ago by Sam Matthews

Comments
(31)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
pplareheartless
|
July 06, 2012
its genuinely sad what happened ive known the whole family for almost 20 years and there nothing but great people. It saddens me, how he puts his hard earned money into giving joy to soo many people, all for it to just be taken away. we have all enjoyed the beutifull display he puts up for us and the 40 other neighbors and familys that look forward to seeing every year we will all greatly miss it and cannot thankyou enough for making all our "fourth,s" soo spectacular and something will all never forget.and an FYI for those who dont know anything about any of this hes always respected all the surrounding neighbors an any wishes they have and been safe about what he does.
Reply
pplareheartless
|
July 06, 2012
we wish nothing but the best for you and the fsmily and youve been a great neighbor i know your one many wish they had!!!!!
slywink
|
July 06, 2012
You would have been singing a different tune if things went bad while sitting in your "front row seats" - fireworks malfunctions even happen to the pros and maim and kill.

Were the people that he was ILLEGALLY SELLING fireworks to responsible and benevolent also?

This is a NEIGHBORHOOD, not a public venue. We have children, pets, and homes to protect - totally irresponsible - he BROKE THE LAW - no respect here........hopefully the annual new years and future major explosions from him (above) and others are over
slywink
|
July 04, 2012
Thanks & Kudos also to the person that reported this activity - thanks for caring about our neighborhood and city!
Reply
slywink
|
July 04, 2012
I would like to thank the Tracy Police & Fire Department for taking this issue seriously.

This neighbor with the fireworks, plus a few others in that area have held us hostage for many years on ALL holidays, we feared fires, injuries, and our pets well-being.

Between, Jenni Court, Foothill Ranch, and Hillside - the fireworks are bigger than at some legal displays!

There were some major explosions and aerial displays last night 6/3 but not as many as normal.

Possibly some of us can enjoy this INDEPENDANCE Day instead of guarding our homes and family

Well done!......Prosecution is in order!

Reply
backinblack
|
July 04, 2012
Well what do you know, my wish comes true. Here's a little online pop quiz in relation to The Fourth:

http://glo.msn.com/living/know-it-all-fourth-of-july-8340.gallery

For those who can't hit at least 60%, put down the fireworks and pick up a book or two. For the record I hit 10 of 11. Good luck and have a Happy Fourth.
Reply
ChrisRoberts
|
July 03, 2012
Hey public citizen, rather than call names online why not find me on St. Martins way (first house on the right) and say it to my face?

Stop by tough guy.
Reply
PublicCitizen
|
July 04, 2012
2843 Saint Martins Way? Nice house, a little small though. was worth north of $600,000 back in '05, what's it worth now? around $200,000? You got other things to worry about my friend rather than picking fights and whining about Tracy PD.

BTW, your lawn looks like crap!
rosa62
|
July 03, 2012
I would bet the City had these people raided because their private display was in direct competition with the display being put on at Tracy High.
Reply
BATinTracy
|
July 03, 2012
Great job, Fire & PD!!! The City puts on a fantastic fireworks display at Tracy High. Attend and get to know your neighbors as you enjoy a great display that honors the best country on earth. Each year, hundreds are injured by these illegal fireworks. Hope we can get through this 4th without some knucklehead starting a fire, hurting a kid, or blowing a few fingers off his hand.
Reply
backinblack
|
July 03, 2012
Wobbley, "Everyone know it was France!

Now can I blow something up in PEACE!?"

Comical - I assume you're kidding

France happens to be one of the countries a lot of teenagers name, the other? Canada.

Reply
kbreeden
|
July 03, 2012
Try living down the street from this guy every year and putting up with his "fireworks show" and wondering who's house he might set on fire. I'm glad the police and fire dept. seized his stash.Great job Tracy PD!
Reply
Wobbley
|
July 03, 2012
I don't believe the gentleman gets the concept of 'what goes up must come down'. I don't particularly care about the Fireworks on the 4th, but he shot off a 50 round mortar very late last Thursday night right outside my window and I didn't expect it.

I was half way to the gun closet before I realized it was only fireworks.
mka09
|
July 03, 2012
I live down the street from this family too, and you have to admit they put on a fantastic show last year. My kids had a blast watching front row.
slywink
|
July 04, 2012
Did you ever think of calling the police yourself?

All calls are anonymous........

If I was there and could get an address, I would call in a heartbeat, before a fire, injury to a neighbor

A fire in that garage could have taken out multiple homes, shrapnel injured or killed

That's Entertainment?
backinblack
|
July 03, 2012
Here's an idea, just as I think people should have to pass some sort of pop quiz before voting, let's do something similar with the use of fireworks. If someone cannot name the country we declared our independence from, name at least one battle from The Revolutionary War, and at least two, maybe three of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, then sorry, no fireworks for them.

I get a kick out of people who whine about fireworks restrictions yet have no clue as to what July 4th is truly about. The level of knowledge these days about our nations history and it's structure is pathetic. This is supported by many things including the average college level scores in civics which hover around 50 - 60%, and the fact most teenage range kids can't name who we declared and won our independence from.

There's my rant for the day but I do so as a proud American who's saddened by the ignorance of our history and birth as diplayed these days by way too many of my fellow countrymen & women.
Reply
Wobbley
|
July 03, 2012
Everyone know it was France!

Now can I blow something up in PEACE!?
backinblack
|
July 03, 2012
"Tracy Police will be there fast for fire works, little kids skating at a school, or to give speeding tickets.

But when ever there are murders, home burglaries, and robberies, they are no where to be found."

Please provide the statistics to support these assertions, ie: response times to the various transgressions you site, arrest percentages for each, etc.

I notice you are constantly criticizing the Tracy PD, and who knows, maybe you are right but how about backing up the accusations with some facts?

Reply
ChrisRoberts
|
July 03, 2012


Im not sure why you want stats anyways, considering how hard Tracy PD works to manipulate them, so they can dupe people into thinking the we don't have a real crime problem.

It's funny you go to Indiana or Ohio and the same fireworks that cause the Tracy PD to raid a house are legally for sale in a store.

So are fireworks really that serious or is it just some yokel NIMBY'S (NOT In My Back Yard) trying to pretend fireworks are a serious crime issue.

Oh no fireworks, call the FBI, CALL THE ATF, call the Department of homeland security. Only terrorists use fireworks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(sarcasm)en
PublicCitizen
|
July 03, 2012
Congratulations Chris,

Once again you proved how mu h of a dumbass you really are.
Malia
|
July 02, 2012
This has been a dry Winter... I would not want to see anyone's home burned down, or anyone hurt from the illegal explosives. Thanks Tracy PD!

Every July 4th I had to protect my home, back-yard with a hose ready because my rear neighbors set off explosives. Some sort of rocket nearly hit my elderly mother sitting in a lounge chair... hit a decoration and exploded it! The TPD were too busy with a ton of calls with the same sort of complaints. My rear neighbors didn't care about it when I called them either. "The hell with anyone else..." Is that celebrating our country's birthday?

Reply
ChrisRoberts
|
July 02, 2012
Tracy Police will be there fast for fire works, little kids skating at a school, or to give speeding tickets.

But when ever there are murders, home burglaries, and robberies, they are no where to be found.

It's a reoccuring theme I have noticed since living in Tracy for over a decade.
Reply
Ornley_Gumfudgen
|
July 03, 2012
Obviously, frum yer point of view, they got better thangs ta do. So next time don't waste thair time an call em when ya need halp. Seems ta me they have done a pretty good job in solvin murders, home burglaries an robberies an yer just chronically complainin about everythang they do.

Then thair's Sneaky, good moniker fer a law abidin citizen, who don't apparently understand that back when he was a kid an all them fireworks were legal thair probably warn't more than a thousand or so people livin in Tracy, as opposed ta th 85 or so thousand that live thair taday.

Use ta live in a town that had dirt streets, no sidewalks or curbs too. Don't find places like that much any more. Thangs an people/cultures change over time.

Accidentally burnt down a hay barn with a misplaced bottle rocket when I was a kid. Larnt somethang about that lesson that sorta stayed with me.

Keep em out of town if ya gotta use em an if ya do use em use a lot of common sense so ya don't hurt yerself or, better yet, someone or somethang else.

Remember, yer rights an freedoms only extend ta th point whair they infringe on th rights an freedoms of others an th world don't revolve around you.
45MPH
|
July 03, 2012
Really Chris? The police are never there for burglaries, murders and robberies.

Why even make such a stupid comment?

I've got a suggestion since our town never seems to meet your high requirements....

MOVE
AverageBri
|
July 02, 2012
Geez, how many cops does it take to confiscate a couple boxes of fireworks? Half the shift must be standing in that one photo. Not like Tracy doesn't have any real crime goin on with hundreds of gangsters roaming the streets.
Reply
Sneaky
|
July 02, 2012
Its sad that we can no longer celebrate our national independence in proper fashion. When I was younger there were virtually no fireworks that were not legal. And guess what? The 4th was much more enjoyable. Despite all the scare talk nowadays I never saw anyones house burn down due to fireworks.

I dont blame the police, they are just doing their job. What needs to change are the laws. We need roman candles, blooming flowers, bottle rockets, etc, back in adult hands.
Reply
dd95376
|
July 02, 2012
Sneaky - Some homework. Here are a few items to read. More to come

http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/8445024/article-Police-Log--Fireworks-calls-dominate-Fourth-of-July?

http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/8014589/article-Police-Log--Fireworks-start-small-fire-in-park?

http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/2189337/article-Noisy-New-Year-s?

http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/2180082/article-Fireworks-fill-shelter-with-spooked-dogs?

Sneaky
|
July 02, 2012
Dd, none of those are very compelling. The first one just mentions some folks complaining about fireworks with no reports of any damage. Heaven forbid we have fireworks and a bit of noise the day we celebrate Independence Day. The second one refers to teens playing with fireworks, not something I am suggesting. The third is about noise complaints on New Years. Give me a break. Its New Years. Yes, there will be some noise. We can live with it once a year. The fouth article highlights the fact that some dog owners dont care about their dogs enough to bring them inside on the fourth.
dd95376
|
July 02, 2012
Sheaky:

So, comment on this report from the firemen who deal with fireworks.

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/os.fireworks.pdf
b32
|
July 02, 2012
Sneaky, I just wanted to say I fully understand what you are saying. However I did witness a fire when I was young from a bottle rocket. It was not a pretty site. It affected our whole neighborhood. It is not the actual fireworks that is a problem it is the ones that are lighting them. When you have even adults lighting them after a few to many drinks. They make bad decision and at times can start a fire and endanger others around them. That one reason i am sure of why they became illegal.
victor_jm
|
July 03, 2012
"Its [sic] sad that we can no longer celebrate our national independence in proper fashion."

Really? What is this "proper fashion" the writer alludes to? I enjoy the 4th all the time without illegal drugs, alcohol, gunfire, or illegal fireworks.

Cognitively low-level amusements seem to be the order of this day for some.

Enjoy.



We encourage readers to share online comments in this forum, but please keep them respectful and constructive. This is not a space for personal attacks, libelous statements, profanity or racist slurs. Comments that stray from the topic of the story or are found to contain abusive language are subject to removal at the Press’ discretion, and the writer responsible will be subject to being blocked from making further comments and have their past comments deleted. Readers may report inappropriate comments by e-mailing the editor at tpnews@tracypress.com.