Location: County Wide

Incident Date: 04-22-16

Incident Time: 1800-2330 hours

Victim: State of California

Posted by: Dispatch

On Friday April 22, 2016 from the hours of 1800 to 2330, the Tulare County Gang Violence Suppression Unit and the Interagency Gang Enforcement Team  along with Gang Investigators from the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation- OCS-SSU,  Exeter, Farmersville, Tulare and Visalia Police Departments and the TARGET Gang Task force conducted Gang Suppression activities in the communities of Lindsay, Strathmore, Porterville (city & county areas), Terra Bella, Ducor and Richgrove. This is a zero tolerance for crime detail in the listed communities with the focus on the suppression of gang violence, identifying gang members and gaining gang intelligence. During this detail the following criminal gang activity was noted over the night of the operation:

Twenty eight (28) Gang members were identified and documented.

One (1) northern Gang member was arrested for Possession of a Controlled substance (11377(a) H&S) and Possession of narcotic paraphernalia (11364 H&S)

Three (3) Public intoxication arrests were made.

Six (6) Misdemeanor arrest warrants for various violations were served.

Two (2) Felony arrest warrants for various violations were served.

The following notable arrests were made during the operation:

Juan Sandoval MH/ 24 yrs,  Strathmore, and a Male Hispanic 17 yrs, Strathmore, were arrested for Possession of a concealed firearm, Minor in possession of live ammunition, Minor in possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen handgun. The occupants were contacted by Gang Investigators who were investigating gunshots heard in the area of Road 197 and Avenue 231 in Strathmore. Investigators conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving the area of the shots and when they stopped the vehicle and contacted the occupants, the investigators saw a handgun and an AR-15 in the back of the vehicle. Both subjects were taken into custody without incident. The handgun was found to be stolen. Sandoval was transported and booked at the APTF and the Juvenile was booked at the Juvenile detention facility.

Male Hispanic/ 16 yrs Porterville, Ca, a Northern Gang member, was contacted in regards to traffic violation in his vehicle in the area of Willow and Third, in Porterville. A search of his vehicle was conducted. The Male juvenile was found to be in possession of a .38 caliber revolver which was loaded. The 16-year-old Juvenile was arrested without incident and booked at the Juvenile Detention Facility for Possession of a concealed firearm and possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle.

Booking photos are available through the Main Jail. These types of suppression activities show how important interagency cooperation is in the suppression of gang violence.

            Anonymous information about Gang Activities in Tulare County can be reported via Tipnow, email tcso@tipnow.net or text or voicemail at 559-725-4194 or (800) END-GANG

or download the Tipnow app for Android or Apple phones.

These cases are currently under investigation and no other information is being released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Departments Gang Violence Suppression Unit at (559) 735-1898 or (800) 808-0488.