East Providence Man Arrested in Seizure of Illegal Fireworks in Bristol

Bristol Police, with the assistance of the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal's Office and the Bristol Fire Department, arrested two men after seizing illegal fireworks from two Bristol businesses on Thursday, June 30. An East Providence man was arrested as part of the operation.

According to a release, Bristol Police Detective Paul Medeiros purchased illegal fireworks at On the Edge, a business located at 629 Metacom Ave. Medeiros also purchased illegal fireworks at Midland Farms Inc., located at 435 Wood St. Following the purchases, the Bristol Police Department obtained a search warrant for both businesses.

On Thursday, officers executed a search warrant at On the Edge, seizing a "large amount of illegal fireworks", 17 stun guns, 84 cartons of untaxed cigarettes, narcotic pills and $1,006 in cash. Anthony Franco, 65, of 215 Bayview Ave., was charged with a misdemeanor for sale of fireworks, a felony charge of possession of fireworks, a felony charge of weapons other than firearms prohibited, one felony charge of sale of unstamped cigarettes, and one felony charge of possession of narcotics with intent to deliver.

Police said that around the same time, officers executed a search warrant at Midland Farms where they seized "assorted firecrackers". Shabbir Baig, 46, of 612 Bullocks Point Ave., in East Providence, was charged with misdemeanor counts of sale of fireworks and possession of fireworks. 

According to the release, officers and the Deputy Marshals also cited , located at 300 Hope St., for safety violations relating to the sale of fireworks.