On Wednesday, OPD arrested one of Oakland’s best known-musicians for allegedly possessing thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks.
Police searched vehicles and three Oakland properties associated with Stanley Cox, who is better known by his rap moniker Mistah F.A.B. According to police records, officers recovered seven boxes of fireworks from Dezi’s Lounge, a nightclub that Cox operates on Telegraph Avenue. Officers also recovered two firearms, one of which OPD alleges is stolen.
The Alameda County District Attorney told The Oaklandside that this case has been charged and was arraigned Friday morning. According to court records, Cox has been charged with two misdemeanors: possession of dangerous fireworks and receiving stolen property.
Cox is known locally for his entrepreneurship, activism, and philanthropy, including his DOPE ERA fashion brand, his work promoting mental health, and events like his annual Thanksgiving Turkey giveaway and annual backpack giveaway for Oakland students.
The Oaklandside tried to contact Cox but was unable to reach him.
According to court records, the investigation was triggered after officers reviewed a video on Cox’s Instagram account posted during the Independence Day holiday weekend in which he can be seen standing in a basketball court on 43rd Street in West Oakland surrounded by large boxes and garbage bags that appear to be filled with fireworks.
In a statement to The Oaklandside, an OPD spokesperson said the department prevented a firework display on July 4, but the person with fireworks relocated and launched them at a different location.
In the video he posted, Cox refers to “$10,000 worth of fireworks for the kids.”
The Oaklandside reviewed the video cited in police records, which is still up on Cox’s Instagram. In the 45-second clip, Cox stands next to cardboard boxes filled with fireworks. As a group of people looks on, dozens of rockets in the middle of a basketball court are launched into the air.
In the comments of his Instagram post, a user warned Cox “You know I love you my brother but you can’t be broadcasting that on here I know your heart is in the right place.” Cox responded, “broadcasting fireworks going off ?? Filming a show im not lighting anything just standing in front of works.”
California law allows people to set off “safe and sane” fireworks that have been approved by a federal agency that regulates consumer goods. But Oakland has made all fireworks illegal. Anyone caught in possession of fireworks can be cited and receive a $1,000 fine. State law also bans the possession of large quantities of prohibited fireworks.
OPD said its investigation is ongoing.
Oaklanders file hundreds of complaints every year regarding illegal fireworks. Complaints are heavily concentrated in the flatlands. City officials maintain a tip line to report illegal fireworks, but it’s unclear how often Oakland enforces its ban on fireworks.
OPD reported that over the last Fourth of July weekend, its officers conducted 198 enforcement stops that resulted in 20 arrests, but none of those were related to fireworks.
Before the holiday weekend, OPD and the Alameda County Sheriff say they recovered over 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks.
East Bay police routinely scour social media, especially around the Fourth of July, looking for people selling or possessing illegal fireworks.
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