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European County officials hope that the state Attorney General’s Office will take part in an investigation into a fatal fireworks explosion at a fireworks company as many locals see it as a conflict of interest after it is revealed that two European County Sheriff’s Office employees own the property in which the company launched a fire and killed seven people.
On Friday, European County Speaker Mary Vixy Sandy wrote to Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office called for participation in an investigation with the Sheriff’s Office about “the perception of the strong conflict” and ongoing investigation into a fatal industrial accident.
No criminal charges have been filed on July 1 in connection with the explosion and fire that tore a fireworks company’s warehouse in a rural farming community in Esparto, California.
County officials say the former state fire service office is leading the investigation, and the European County District Attorney’s Office provides oversight if a charge is filed.
“While I don’t question the ability and integrity of district attorneys to support the investigation of Cal Fire and Cal OSHA, ensuring public confidence in the investigation and results is extremely important to the European County Board of Supervisors and the community,” Sandy writes. “The public perception and integrity of the research elements currently being conducted at the local level is that they are mostly useful by the direct involvement of the Department of Justice.”
The Attorney General’s Office said it is reviewing the demand.
The victim’s families say their relatives were hired to wrap the fireworks for several days, held at the Esparto warehouse on the weekend of July 4th. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Their bodies were pulled out of the premises a few days after the explosion, after an explosive expert safely set the remaining harmful substances on fire.
The dead were identified as Christopher Goltiáo Bokog, 45, of San Francisco. Neil Justin Lee, 41, of San Francisco. Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28 years old, of Sacramento. Carlos Javier Rodriguez Mora, 43, San Andreas. Jesus controls Ramos, 18, from San Pablo. Johnny Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo. Angel Matthew Voler, 18, of Stockton, according to the Yolo County Coroner’s Office.
Since the explosion, the former state fire service office has suspended Kenneth Chie’s fireworks license from the devastating fireworks of Black Star fireworks that were linked to the site and Craig’s cut light. Cutright previously worked as a volunteer firefighter at a local fire station, officials said.
The fireworks company operated on a property owned by Sheriff Lt. Col. Sam Machado and his wife. He works as an administrative employee for the Sheriff’s Office. Both are on administrative leave, according to Sheriff Tom Lopez. Authorities say sheriff’s officials were directly involved in emergency response to the subsequent explosion and Brush fire, but were not involved in the ongoing investigation. The Sheriff’s Office declined to provide comments on the investigation and directed all questions to Cal Fire, Lopez said in a statement posted to Facebook.
“Even so, some may recognize that we are not accessible. Our intentions continue to fully support the research process and respect for the role of key institutions,” Lopez said.
Machado and his wife are on leave, but Lopez said “this does not imply cheating, but is a standard measure to ensure a fair and fair investigation process.”
Machado could not be contacted for comment.
Earlier this month, law enforcement officials searched the San Francisco home, where Chi is listed as the owner. His attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
On Friday, Canary Bean and Wheat Farmer Eta James Farming sued catastrophic fireworks, Blackstar fireworks, Cutlight and Machado in a civil lawsuit. Etjames Agriculture claims that the fire damaged adjacent crops, agricultural equipment and infrastructure.
The lawsuit states that the fireworks operators operated illegal businesses on sites that were not permitted by property. According to Etta James Farming, illegal operations should have been obvious to everyone appointed in the lawsuit. They seek undecided quantities related to crop destruction, agricultural infrastructure and equipment, along with punitive damages.
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