4th Of July In Everett, No Fireworks Citations But Man Arrested For Firing Off AR-15

July 8, 2020

Police Blotter

fireworks complaints

More warnings, fewer citations due to COVID-19 concerns and budget cuts.

If you thought it was a noisier than usual 4th of July in Everett this year you are right. Everett Police say they issued more warnings this year than in past years but no citations. In past years there were extra officers on special overtime patrols. Even detectives and command staff were brought in on past fireworks patrols but this year that did not happen in Everett. We asked Everett Police about the difference this year and received the following answers to our questions from Public Information Officer Aaron Snell.

Why were these patrols discontinued this year?
In past years, the department used enforcement teams to respond to firework complaint calls. Due to the current increase in COVID-19 cases, coupled with budgetary uncertainty, Operations opted to reactively enforce fireworks complaints and remain focused on life safety calls. This year, patrol units handled fireworks complaints and issued more warnings than in previous years.

Why were fireworks complaints bulk listed as “Patrol Information” as opposed to being directly dispatched for officers to handle?

The guidance to Patrol was to respond to as many complaints as possible. Due to the volume of calls, many were closed as “Patrol Information.” However, we contacted and provided more warnings than in 2019.

How many citations were issued for Unlawful Possession or Discharge of fireworks in 2019?
Five citations were issued in 2019 related to fireworks.

How many citations were issued for Unlawful possession or discharge of fireworks in 2020?
Zero citations issued in 2020 related to fireworks.

Snell did say that there were 25 fireworks warnings issued in 2019 while this year there were 56 fireworks warnings issued.

One man was arrested for shooting not fireworks, but an AR-15 rifle into the air. Here’s that story.

About 20 minutes after 10 PM Everett Police were called to an apartment complex in the 900 block of West Casino Road for reports of a man firing a rifle into the air outside of his apartment. Responding officers talked to witnesses and also heard what they described as gunfire.

Officers moved through the complex and recovered about a dozen shell casings from the ground outside one of the apartments. Witnesses said the rifle the man was firing looked like an AR-15.

According to a police probable cause statement, officers knocked on the door of the apartment near where the shell casings were recovered.

A man answered the door and reportedly told officers he had been asleep. He allowed officers to search the apartment where they discovered an AR-15 rifle.

Two witnesses identified the man as the one seen firing the gun into the air. The rifle was impounded and the man booked into the Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree. He posted bond on July5th after spending the night in jail.



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