County authorities were prepared to launch an investigation into a midnight fireworks celebration reportedly organized to celebrate the birthday of Khloe Kardashian's boyfriend, James Harden, who turned 26.

Eight minutes' worth of fireworks were launched from a boat about 100 feet west of the Marina del Rey breakwater yesterday, according to the L.A. Sheriff's Department.

Deputies said organizers obtained permission from the U.S. Coast Guard, which has jurisdiction in waters outside the Sheriff's-controlled marina.

But Marina Sheriff's officials say they received 40 calls complaining or inquiring about the display. They said they are preparing to investigate “to ascertain if any laws or ordinances were violated,” according to a statement overnight.

Some callers initially “thought that the unexpected noise might have been weapons,” according to the statement. No Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to check out the festivities, officials said.

The department had no power to approve or deny of the display, Sheriff's authorities emphasized, but it knew about it.

“The event planners inquired with the U.S. Coast Guard, prior to the event and went through the appropriate U.S. Coast Guard review process,” the Sheriff's statement says. “The Los Angeles County Fire Department and Harbor Patrol of the Marina del Rey Sheriff’s Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) were notified.”

Mike Bonin, the city councilman who represents Venice and Playa del Rey, had this to say:

At midnight last night, an enormous fireworks show in Santa Monica Bay woke up thousands of people in Marina del Rey, Venice, Playa del Rey and elsewhere. This ridiculous, rude and loud celebrity birthday bash woke up schoolchildren, scared pets and rousted thousands of people from a good night's sleep. The City of Los Angeles did NOT permit this event, and had absolutely nothing to do with it. Los Angeles County Beaches & Harbors, which overseas and operates the Marina, says they did not permit it either, and it was far enough into the bay to be outside their jurisdiction. The U.S. Coast Guard authorized this event …


Bonin said the fireworkers were seen or heard far and wide, from “the South Bay to Pacific Palisades, and as far inland as Culver City and Mar Vista.”

The Sheriff's department explained that it will investigate the fireworks when someone comes forward and files a formal, criminal complaint (hint, hint). All that person would need to do is call (310) 482-6000, officials stated:

There are no local ordinances which specifically regulate the use of legal fireworks in waterways outside of the lines or demarcation/offshore. However, loud disturbances are addressed in section 415 of the California Penal Code (PC). In order to address this under 415 PC, it would require at least one victim and proof of malicious intent. 

It just takes one.

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