Fireworks Seized; Firm Owner Cited

Orange County Fire Department investigators confiscated about $5,000 worth of bottle rockets and other illegal fireworks from a Tustin electronics firm and arrested the company’s owner, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Edward Paige, 31, of Huntington Beach was cited on suspicion of possession and sale of illegal fireworks, which is a felony, Fire Department spokeswoman Patti Range said.

Acting on a tip from an anonymous informant, fire investigators began monitoring the activities of the company, Range said. While investigators did not reveal the name of the firm, Paige is president of Paige Communications Corp.

On Wednesday afternoon, the investigators saw two people leaving the rear of the company’s warehouse, she said. The two then were joined by Paige, Range said.

Investigators questioned them and then cited Paige on suspicion of possessing illegal fireworks, which is equivalent to an arrest, authorities said. In addition, Guy Kasai, 31, of Santa Ana was cited on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of illegal fireworks he had allegedly bought from the company, Range said. The third person was not cited.

Both Paige and Kasai were released on their own recognizance.

‘An Exaggeration’

Contacted Thursday, Paige said that one of his employees had brought in some fireworks without Paige’s knowledge and that only the employee--whom he would not identify--had been cited. He said that only about three dozen rockets and some fountains were involved.

Informed that fire officials had said he was arrested on suspicion of a felony, Paige said, “I don’t know anything about that.” Regarding the quantity of the fireworks involved, Paige said of the fire officials’ report, “I think that’s an exaggeration.”

Capt. Patrick McIntosh said the illegal fireworks seized from the company warehouse originally had been purchased for $1,000 but had a street value of $3,000 to $5,000 and filled the investigators’ van.

“Mr. Paige was arrested, and there was enough quantity to substantiate felony charges against him,” McIntosh said.

Range said the fireworks were mostly bottle rockets, which explode and shower sparks, but also included some mortars, which shoot a projectile into the air where it explodes with a loud noise.

The illegal fireworks had been manufactured “all over” but were mainly from the Orient, Range said. They originally had been shipped to the East Coast, then transported to the West Coast, she said.

Range defined illegal fireworks as “anything that goes up in the air, or surprises the user and makes a bang.” In addition, illegal fireworks carry no “safe and sane” seal to indicate that they have been approved for safety, she said.

Range said the investigation is continuing.