Projo Biz Blog

The Rhode Island State Police arrested a Coventry man Saturday on felony fireworks possession and delivery charges.

Bryan Gartner, 37, of 83 East Shore Drive, was charged with possession of class C fireworks over $500 and delivery of fireworks, the state police said in a news release today.

The state police said detectives learned Gartner was distributing "large amounts of mortar-style fireworks" throughout Rhode Island. During the investigation, which began in late May, detectives got information that Gartner recently returned from the Midwest with a fireworks shipment. And, the police said, Gartner had storage bins at two locations, one in Rhode Island and the other in Seekonk, Mass.

During a motor vehicle stop by state police detectives in Rhode Island after they said they saw Gartner leave a Seekonk storage facility, the police seized eight "large boxes" of fireworks from Gartner's minivan. The minivan's seat had been taken out to accommodate the fireworks, the police said.

Rhode Island and Massachusetts state police searched the Seekonk storage bin and said they found a large amount of Class C fireworks. Detectives then searched a West Greenwich storage area and seized 15 more large boxes of fireworks.

The Rhode Island State Police put an estimated "street value" on the fireworks of about $35,000.

Gartner was released on $10,000 personal recognizance and is slated to appear in court for a determination-of-attorney hearing on July 14.

The news release said Gartner will be charged by Massachusetts State Police with possession of fireworks.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Comments

Jay said:

I feel so much safer now....another dangerous criminal off the streets.

Link | June 30, 2008 1:47 PM
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kevin said:

Thank god he wasn't a Narragansett tribe-member! the Staties would have swarmed his home, dragged him out and beaten him. Good job State Police! Another dangerous criminal off our streets. I'm sure the dogma spewed forth will be the "prevention of serious injury due to careless ignition of illegal fireworks". How much you want to bet these fireworks still end up being shot off, likely by some law enforcement official over the weekend? Don't they have anything better to do? How about stopping the trailer trucks that still stream over the bridge in Pawtucket - Rte 95 that I see daily?

Link | June 30, 2008 1:53 PM
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Bryan said:

Why be so stupid, anyone can drive to Connecticut and buy them. Of course bringing them back to RI is illegal, but who would buy from a middleman when you can buy direct at the store??

Link | June 30, 2008 2:05 PM
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