‘Flooded with calls': Police seize 700 pounds of fireworks, several firearms in Santa Rosa

( KRON ) — The Santa Rosa Police Department was “flooded with calls,” handling a nearly 500% increase in 9-1-1 calls on the evening of the Fourth of July. Police said they ended the night with several armed suspect arrests and hundreds of pounds of illegal fireworks seized.

The SRPD Communications Center typically answers about 300-350 non-emergency and 9-1-1 calls in a day. On an average Fourth of July holiday, however, police believe this number could “skyrocket” to up to 2,000 calls. Police say this uptick was mainly due to “illegal fireworks use” and “alcohol-related and violent crime calls.”

Santa Rosa police, along with the Santa Rosa Fire Department, said they recovered 700 pounds of illegal fireworks on Thursday, with MLK Park on Hendley Street having the largest concentration of people at about 200 spectators.

SRPD’s Special Enforcement Team said they were also patrolled around the city last night. At about 5 p.m., officers made contact with a 16-year-old who had an outstanding arrest warrant. Police said they found a 9mm handgun loaded with 17 rounds before arresting the teenager.

Shortly after midnight, police found a group of people drinking in public in the 800 block of Boyd Street. Police said one of the subjects had a 9mm handgun loaded with 12 rounds hidden in a satchel. The weapon was seized, and the subject was arrested.

Police believed these two arrests “likely prevented multiple shootings in [the] community.” SRPD said it would continue to provide additional staffing throughout the rest of the four-day holiday.

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