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LA County is asking the judge to impose $1 million bail on owners of Atlas Metal Company in Watts.
The owner of a metal recycling company that has been in conflict with Watts public high schools and Los Angeles County public high schools for decades was ordered to detail Thursday after it was found that the business was violated by a pre-trial agreement.
Matthew and Gary Weisenberg, owners of Atlas Metal Company, were detained after being charged in September for mishandling dangerous waste and causing an explosion next to Jordan High School, violated safety laws and committed to complying with all local environmental requirements.
However, inspections last week showed that the company was in violation of its contract due to the presence of highly flammable items, such as compressed gas cylinders.
The metals company owners agreed to a deal that the Watts-based business has no highly flammable objects, according to the LA County District Attorney’s Office.
After the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed a motion to revoke the owner’s pretrial release, the judge agreed Thursday, ordering Weisenberg to be taken into custody again on $1 million bail.
A bail hearing was set up on Monday, March 17th.
A former Jordan Heisholl student said the judge’s decision means that the metal company owners ultimately feel “consequences for decades of damage to the Watts community.”
“This step continues to hope for the end of their reckless and dangerous operations and the harm that has been caused by a generation of Jordan High students,” Genesis Cruz said.
The metal recycling plan is the subject of multiple lawsuits, including those from the Los Angeles Unified School District.
“The plant shouldn’t be that close to the school,” said Rous principal Alberto Carvalho. “We are investigating and working with the district attorney.”
Representatives from Atlas did not respond to requests for comment.
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