In one case, the bomb squad was called out to an East Moriches home, where a man inside was trying to build his own explosives.
Now, 34-year-old Ronald Walker is charged with reckless endangerment after police say his parents called them to report what he was doing. Authorities closed off part of Woodcrest Drive around 1:30 p.m. to keep neighbors safe as they raided the home, where they found chemicals and other components used to make dangerous homemade fireworks.
Officials say illegal fireworks cause an estimated 15,000 fires and 60 injuries nationwide on the Fourth of July each year.
In this crackdown, a routine traffic stop led to the arrest of another man in Melville Wednesday. Police say 40-year-old William Legette was found with illegal fireworks in his car after he was pulled over just before 8 p.m. for failing to signal. They believe he planned to sell them.
Legette is charged with unlawfully dealing with fireworks, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and numerous traffic violations.
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