Police nab 1,800 pounds of illegal fireworks

A Salinas man was arrested today for attempting to sell 1,800 pounds of illegal fireworks from his home via Facebook, police said.

A Department of Justice Task Force, comprised of Salinas police, Monterey County sheriff’s deputies, and California Highway Patrol officers, discovered a Facebook posting in which a person was attempting to sell large quantities of illegal fireworks.

An undercover officer contacted the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Daniel Escatel Alcocer, through Facebook and made a deal to purchase the fireworks from him at his Salinas home.

The undercover officer met with the suspect at his home in the unit block of Towt Street, about a block from El Sausal Middle School. Alcocer led the undercover officer to a large shed in the backyard where the fireworks were displayed, police said.

As soon as the undercover officer purchased the fireworks, additional officers arrived at the scene to arrest Alcocer.

Fire officials took possession of the fireworks, which consisted of both small explosives and aerial fireworks, according to police. The fireworks weighed about 1,800 pounds and were valued at about $20,000, police said.

Alcocer was booked into the Monterey County Jail for several misdemeanors and felonies related to possession and sales of illegal fireworks.