A New Haven firefighter is one of three people under arrest in an illegal fireworks bust along the shoreline after police seized several boxes of fireworks and thousands of dollars in cash.
West Haven Police arrested Luigio Zaccariello, 28, of Martin Street, and Robert Crisco, 43, of Lloyd Street in New Haven at Zaccariello’s home. Authorities charged the two with multiple felony and misdemeanor explosives and fireworks charges.
"They actually collected $2,000 cash in West Haven. They also estimated the fireworks to be in the tens of thousands of dollars for street value," said West Haven Sgt. Dave Tammaro.
As the investigation continued, it led police to Hunter's Trail in Madison. Madison police and fire officials responded and also found a large cache of fireworks and took Matthew Hagan, 54, into custody, according to West Haven Police. The charges filed against him were not immediately known.
Connecticut State Police received an anonymous tip that led them to the bust.
When we visited the address listed in the police report, which authorities also noted as Zaccariello's home, a woman answered the door and said Zaccariello had nothing to do with it.
The other man arrested, Crisco, is a veteran New Haven firefighter. He is now on administrative leave with pay pending a departmental investigation.
"The citizens of our city have an expectation that their public safety officials, whether fire or police, are certainly going to be of high moral standard," said New Haven Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Egan.
Authorities say it's a dangerous situation that could have ended differently.
"People who live at that address, the neighbors who have no idea what is next door to them. I mean, it's a potential disaster," said Sgt. Tammaro.
Zaccariello was also charged with risk of injury to a minor and reckless endangerment relating to two children living in the home where the explosives were discovered.
Police seized the explosives and fireworks and transported them to a magazine storage facility pending destruction.
Photo Credit: West Haven Police