Sheriff’s arrest Vista man in illegal fireworks case

Months of explosions rattling homes and cars ends as authorities seize drugs, a firearm, cash and a mortar tube

Months of illegal fireworks explosions terrorized a Vista neighborhood for months until the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department arrest a 24-year-old man on Dec. 12. Courtesy image

VISTA — As weeks and months went by, residents in Townsite grew more concerned, scared and frustrated as someone was blasting off illegal fireworks.

The alleged suspect, Gillermo Vargas, 24, was arrested by San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies on Dec. 12 on the 700 block of North Citrus Avenue. He is charged with child cruelty, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed, cocaine possession and being held on $500,000 bond.

Authorities also contacted and detained 19 individuals and seized more than 3 pounds of cocaine, a firearm, ammunition, cash and a mortar tube used for illegal fireworks, according to the sheriff’s press release.

“I'm proud of our Sheriff's Deputies and detectives,” Mayor John Franklin said. “They worked diligently to identify the suspect and establish probable cause for a search warrant. We took this investigation very seriously from the beginning. Based on the seizures of evidence, it's obvious that this suspect was engaged in serious criminal activity and needed to be brought to justice.”

“Thank you to our deputies for their diligence and hard work,” Vista Councilman Dan O’Donnell said on social media. “I know this has been an ongoing nuisance and hopefully this will bring these explosions to an end.”

One woman who lives in the neighborhood, Natalie, described weeks and months of agony as Vargas, or others, would walk up and down the street firing off illegal fireworks, usually between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. She requested her last name not be used for safety reasons.