Watsonville police say they’ve discovered 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Watsonville police say that they've confiscated nearly 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks only four days into the department's fireworks enforcement efforts program. 

Officers said that a group of people, including a teenager, is suspected of selling fireworks across Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties. 

The investigation led authorities to a home in Hollister, where the fireworks were being stored, according to police.

Watsonville PD also found an illegal assault rifle and half a kilogram of cocaine. 

Investigators say that the case is ongoing and will now be forwarded to the District Attorney's office for prosecution. 

"we're still combing through the evidence and interviewing people, reviewing data that we obtained to determine the charges," said Juan Trujillo, a Sergeant with the Watsonville Police Department.

Every year, ahead of the 4th of July, it's the same loud booms that Sherry Bernate is just sick of hearing.

"We hear just bombs and not real bombs, but just loud, loud, piercing fireworks. Sometimes I think people are just shooting rounds up into the sky. It starts in June and it goes right up to the end of August," said Bernate.

Being from the North State, she's seen firsthand how destructive illegal fireworks can be.

"When I lived in Redding, my sister and brother-in-law, my nephew, and my nieces had to all evacuate from their homes because of fire," said Bernate.

"There's various risks associated with using the fireworks. They can cause fires, they can cause accidents. We commonly see people at the emergency room being treated for injuries consistent with setting them off," said Trujillo.

Watsonville PD says fines can be up to 1,000 per violation. For example, it's $1,000 for simply having the fireworks. Another $1,000 is added on for lighting them within 50 feet of a structure, and penalties can keep stacking up.

However, safe and sane fireworks are allowed.