A Grover Beach man was arrested and about 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks were seized in a Fresno County garage Sunday, the California Department of Forestry reported.
It's the second time Glenn Howard Smith, 49, has been arrested on suspicion of illegal fireworks possession.
He was arrested about 3 p.m. Sunday at a home in southwest Clovis.
Two years ago, Smith was arrested by CDF/County Fire investigators in San Luis Obispo County for possession of 1,100 pounds of illegal fireworks, said Fresno-based Battalion Chief Rick Moore.
Moore said Smith was under surveillance by CDF investigators.
The fireworks, estimated to be worth more than $18,000, were bought from Nevada and included bottle rockets, mortars and other illegal items that require a professional license in California, Moore said.
The fireworks Smith had in his possession are legal in Nevada.
"It would be a pretty large load in the back of a truck," Moore said, describing the cache.
Smith was arrested in August 2003 after he picked up a shipment of about 1,100 pounds of illegal fireworks in San Luis Obispo.
He also had a few hundred pounds of additional fireworks at his home, said San Luis Obispo-based CDF Battalion Chief Mike Cole.
That seizure was valued at $10,000, Cole said.
Smith was charged with a felony that was reduced to a misdemeanor and placed on three years probation.
He was on probation when arrested Sunday, Cole said.
Last week, Cole said, investigators learned Smith received a 3,100-pound fireworks shipment.
They did surveillance on his home in Grover Beach, only to learn he moved to Clovis.
During surveillance Saturday, investigators saw the fireworks in the home's garage.
Smith was booked into the Fresno County Jail on suspicion of possession of dangerous fireworks and possession of illegal fireworks.
His bail was listed as $6,000, according to jail records.
Distributed by the Associated Press
