Salinas man arrested for setting off illegal fireworks

An 18-year-old Salinas man was arrested Monday after police received to numerous calls of fireworks being set off in the area of Market and Riker streets.

Salinas police said they received a total of 36 such calls in the past several days and responded to another one Monday evening. The officer parked away from the call and very slowly walked toward the area where he saw a few fireworks. On the 200 block of West Market, he spotted a man light off a bottle rocket and then disappear The officer then heard radio traffic coming from a nearby home and realized residents inside were listening to a police scanner. As the officer approached the home, he saw a male light off a mortar firework.

George Mendoza was arrested without incident. He had a mortar firework still in his pocket and admitted that he and his friends were the ones setting off the fireworks for the past few days. He was cited for various fireworks charges, according to Salinas Police Commander Michael Groves.