East Palo Alto police raid nets 600 pounds of illegal fireworks

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. (KGO) -- Law enforcement officers seized 600 pounds of fireworks Friday morning from an East Palo Alto man suspected of dealing them ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, police said.

East Palo Alto police served a search warrant at 3 Gardenia Court while investigating the sale of illegal fireworks, police said. The San Mateo County sheriff's bomb squad and narcotics task force helped them with the warrant.

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The fireworks and explosive devices seized had a street value of over $12,000, police said. The resident had a small marijuana garden in the home's backyard as well.

Police arrested Michael Burt Fields, 54, for possession of the fireworks. He was booked into jail.

"The use of fireworks in our community causes a variety of public safety issues," police Chief Albert Pardini said in a statement.

"If there was a fire in this residence, the explosion and fire would have destroyed the house and likely spread to the adjacent houses causing a significant damage and jeopardizing the lives of many people," Pardini said.