STOCKTON, Calif. — It's been 82 days since the Fourth of July, but a nearly 15-minute-long firework show lit up the sky above southeast Stockton Saturday night and police say they are now investigating it.
According to the Stockton Police Department, around 9:40 p.m., dispatchers started getting several calls about fireworks being set off in the area around Ernie Shropshire Park.
Neighbors in the area tell ABC10 that the illegal fireworks show started around 9:35 p.m. and continued for about 15 minutes.
"You felt the rattle for sure, because the houses are just cross the street, really like a war zone," said Matthew Gomez, who lives in the neighborhood.
Officers and firefighters got to the area around 10:02 p.m., but the people allegedly setting off the fireworks had already left, leaving behind trash littered all around Shropshire Park, police said.
"I had called 911 four times because I wanted Stockton Police to be out here during that, the event. They never showed up, and I'm mad about that," said Mary Salazar, Gomez's aunt.
Officers said several parked cars were damaged in hit-and-run crashes as people left the area following the illegal display, but no injuries were reported.
Police made no arrests regarding the illegal fireworks Saturday night, but said that they do have some suspect information which they plan to follow up on.
Loud sounds and flashes of light from the barrage of fireworks could be heard and seen from miles away.
Some people took to social media to ask where the loud sounds were coming from, including Stockton City Councilman Dan Wright, whose council district is nearly seven miles away from the park where the fireworks were being ignited.
Other posts on Facebook garnered hundreds of comments with dozens of people reporting hearing the loud noises across the city and as far away as Lathrop.
Salazar said she believes officers could've stopped it while it was happening had they taken her calls seriously.
"I'm mad. I'm mad because the police didn't take action. I'm mad that we have to go through this," she said.
By Sunday morning, burn marks on the grass and remnants of the fireworks remain littered across the field as crews worked to clean it up. A Stockton Police spokesperson said officers will conduct special checks to prevent this from happening again. When it comes to those responsible, Salazar had a firm message for them.
"Stop. You're hurting the community and you just destroyed our park for the kids who live here to come and play in in their parks safely. Stop," she said.
Watch more from ABC10: Mid-Autumn Festival held in Stockton, celebrating culture and heritage
