One of the officers told the employee that he was going to Indiana after picking up some fruit because he was having a July 4th party.
The man then asked the undercover officers if they were police. When they answered no, the man said they didn’t have to go to Indiana to buy fireworks, according to court documents.
The man then took the undercover officers down the hill to a barn that was locked. The man then gave the undercover officers a tour of the fireworks on shelves, describing how they sounded and looked.
When one of the undercover officers asked the man how worried he should be to possess these types of fireworks, the individual said, “You would be better off selling heroin, and if you get caught with them, it is like ATF, Homeland Security terrorism (expletive).”
The undercover officers purchased two Roman candles with eight balls, one package containing six UNO335 1.3G firework, six FM9030 three-inch shells and a launching tube for $150.
After receiving a search warrant, a large amount of fireworks were seized from the barn. A 10-page manifest containing 430 boxes of fireworks are listed as part of the search warrant returned this week to Butler County Area III Court.
West Chester police estimate the stash could be valued at as much as $300,000. Also taken from the business was an envelop containing $2,425.
A woman who answered the phone Thursday at Station Road Farm said the owners were not available and their attorney had told them to make no comments.
“The investigation into the incident involving fireworks found at the Station Road Farm remains under investigation. The West Chester Police Department is working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office to determine next steps,” said Barb Wilson, township spokeswoman.
Agents from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were at the scene, but West Chester Police is the lead agency investigating, according to Suzanne Dabkowski, ATF public information officer.
Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said he had not yet looked into the specifics of the investigation, but there are low felony charges or a first-degree misdemeanor charge that could be lodged depending on the evidence.
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