Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Tulalip police seize fireworks

The Boom City raid found numerous illegal explosives.

By Krista J. Kapralos
Herald Writer

 TULALIP -- M-500s, foot-long sticks of explosives and gunpowder-filled tennis balls are just a few of the illegal items Tulalip police say they discovered Sunday in a fireworks stand and storage container at Boom City.

The annual fireworks market on the Tulalip Indian Reservation is well-known as the place to buy explosives that experts say aren't fireworks but are small bombs. A major raid of a fireworks stand Sunday sent a clear message that such sales won't be tolerated, Tulalip Police Chief Scott Smith said.

One man, 50, and one woman, 43, were arrested in connection with the illegal goods. Both were booked in Snohomish County jail. The case is expected to be handled in federal court, Smith said.

Tribal police raided the stand, operated by the man and woman, just after 9 p.m., after the department received an anonymous tip that illegal items were being sold there.

"We haven't done a complete inventory, but the volume of what we seized was large," Smith said Monday.

State law doesn't apply on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, but fireworks sellers must comply with federal law. They cannot sell commercial-grade fireworks, and M-80s and other explosives are banned.

Tulalip police found commercial-grade mortars, M-80s, M-500s and other types of illegal explosives behind the counter of the fireworks stand and in the couple's storage container.

"We seized everything," Smith said, including legal fireworks found in both places.

The stand was shut down immediately, Smith said.

Tribal police contacted the state police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to examine and move the explosives, some of which were leaking loose flash powder, Smith said. Everything that was seized is currently stored in a secure container at Boom City, he said, but tribal police plan to move it to the tribal police department soon.

Federal agents likely will work with tribal police to conduct a full investigation, Smith said. Both people who were arrested Sunday could face federal charges, he said.

The stand's closure "sent a clear message to the public and to stand owners that we want Boom City to be a fun place for people to come," Smith said. "We want tribal members to enjoy their right to sell fireworks, but we want to ensure that it's done in a safe and lawful manner."

Fireworks vendors at Boom City are required to sign an agreement that allows tribal police to conduct random searches of their stands, storage containers and vehicles, Smith said. Tribal police officers work overtime to patrol Boom City, he said.

"It's an issue of safety and security not only for the public that comes to purchase fireworks, but it's also an issue of ensuring that stand owners are in compliance," Smith said.

The fireworks stand is the second stand to be closed this year, Smith said. In the first incident, a stand was closed overnight after an employee was caught selling narcotics, he said.

Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422, kkapralos@heraldnet.com.

Anonymous tips

To submit an anonymous tip to the Tulalip Tribes Police Department about the sale of illegal goods at Boom City, call 360-716-4608.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA