Felon allegedly caught with fireworks, meth, and ammo in car pleads not guilty

A man who was allegedly apprehended with a car full of illegal fireworks one day before the Fourth of July, triggering a bomb squad response on a stretch of Palm Desert roadway, pleaded not guilty to three felony counts today.

Salvador Charles, 43, was pulled over just before 5 p.m. on July 3 near Highway 111 and Shadow Hills Road. After the fireworks, ammunition and methamphetamine were allegedly discovered inside his car, roads were blocked off and a bomb squad was brought in to detonate the fireworks, according to the sheriff’s department.

Charles, who remains in custody in lieu of $160,000 bail, is charged with felony firearm and ammunition possession counts, along with unlawfully possessing a destructive or explosive device and possession of leaded cane or similar prohibited weapons. He’s due back in court July 27 for a felony settlement conference.