Father & son arrested for allegedly possessing 1,200 lbs. of fireworks

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SAN JOSE (BCN)

A father-and-son tandem was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing nearly 1,200 pounds of "dangerous fireworks" at their north San Jose home, police said today.

San Jose police arrested 43-year-old Mark Espinoza Sr. and his 18-year-old son Marco Espinoza Jr. after serving a search warrant at their house in the 1200 block of Wabash Street in the Alviso neighborhood.

Officers found commercial fireworks in the stash, some measuring 3 to 4 feet long.

Community complaints about the use and possession of fireworks at the address sparked a San Jose police investigation in July.

Both men were booked into Santa Clara County Jail on multiple alleged charges, with the elder Espinoza also cited on an outstanding warrant for a previous misdemeanor charge of possession of dangerous fireworks.

The arrests of the two follows an announcement from city officials last week that they are dismissing all 45 citations that were issued for illegal use of fireworks through complaints submitted via a pilot online reporting tool.

Those that received citations will now be issued warning letters and those that paid fines will be reimbursed, according to the city.