Long Island man charged after police seize hundreds of illegal fireworks from Oceanside home

OCEANSIDE (WABC) -- Police on Long Island discovered hundreds of illegal fireworks at a Nassau County home.

The large, professional-grade fireworks were discovered Saturday night at a home in Oceanside.

Police also found hundreds of mortar tubes loaded with shells.

They arrested the homeowner, 29-year-old Joseph Tullo. He is charged with storage of explosives.

They say they found him wiring mortar tube racks on the street just outside his home on West Henrietta Avenue.

Police seized more than 500 mortar tubes and more than 90 multi-tube firework devices from Tullo's home.

"These people showed incredible stupidity or arrogance to have these explosives in front of the house," said neighbor Michael Berger. "People could have been killed."

Police say they had received complaints about the fireworks and that's what led them to Tullo's house.

They say when they arrived the father of two young children was setting up the fireworks right in the middle of the street.

"Incredible things, it jeopardizes the safety of the neighbors. There probably was enough explosives to blow up Oceanside," said neighbor Gail Berger.

Tullo told us after court Sunday that he's a licensed pyrotechnic. His attorney says he used to work for Grucci Fireworks, a prominent fireworks distributor based on Long Island.

As for why Tullo had all of those fireworks he had a simple answer.

"I love 'em," he said.

Tullo was released without bail.