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Los Angeles County officials want to detain the owner of a metal recycling company accused of causing the explosion next to a public high school in Watt and leave it in custody before criminal trial.
The complaint filed Tuesday by the LA County District Attorney’s Office alleges that more flammable material was found during an examination at Atlas Iron & Metal Company next to Jordan High School, asking the judge to revoke Matthew and Gary Weisenberg’s pretrial release.
The owner is to comply with federal and local laws in exchange for release and does not have any highly explosive material on the scene. However, inspectors found that the four compressed gas cylinders were marked one marked as carbon dioxide, marked acetylene.
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.
“The defendant’s actions, ignoring this court order, pose a threat to public safety,” the complaint said.
The district attorney has also asked owner bailers to set it at $1 million, but the metalworking company has requested that it close until it no longer violates the law.
NBCLA contacted Atlas to respond to the latest developments.
Watts Community Group said it supports the district attorney’s decision.
“In other criminal cases, defendants who continue to break the law and put their citizens at risk will be detained. Why should Atlas metals be treated differently?” said Timothy Wakins, CEO of Watts Labor Community Action Committee. “Their reckless disregard for their safety is harming our children and our wider community, and it’s time for the courts to hold them accountable.”
Last September, Atlas was charged with 22 felony counts of knowingly disposing of hazardous waste without permission, with one felony indicted of depositing hazardous waste.
Both owners faced two misdemeanor counts of failing to maintain or operate the facility to minimize the chances of a fire or explosion, and one count of public nuisance.
Metal recycling plants are the subject of multiple lawsuits, including those from the Los Angeles Unified School District.
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