Jun 27, 2008 6:12 pm US/Pacific
Cops Confiscate 800 Pounds Of Fireworks In O.C.
YORBA LINDA
More than 800 pounds (boom!) of illegal fireworks (booooom!) were confiscated Thursday in a bust (no pun intended) in Yorba Linda.
David Donatlan, 40, of Victorville was arrested yesterday at the conclusion of a two-week investigation that began with an anonymous tip concerning the sale of illegal fireworks, said Brea police Sgt. Bill Smyser.
Donatlan was free after posting $20,000 bail Friday.
Undercover detectives met with Donatlan in a parking lot at 22633 Savi Ranch Parkway, bought about $100 worth of illegal fireworks from him and allegedly asked if he had more, Smyser said.
Donatlan led them to a warehouse in Ontario, and after the detectives verified more fireworks were there, they arrested Donatlan and got a search warrant, Smyser said.
In all, about 800 pounds of fireworks were seized, he said.
Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Mike Blawn, whose department participated in the investigation, said the cache included M80s and other
aerial devices that are illegal throughout the state.
Donatlan was arrested on suspicion of possessing more than 100 pounds of fireworks, sales of dangerous fireworks and storing fireworks without a
permit.
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