"...now we are able to identify those who are hiding under the protection of lying to law enforcement or lying to the court system and now we are able to associate them with an actual gang or associate them with gang members,” said Mike Boudreaux (left) with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Investigation Bureau.

RICHGROVE – Nearly two dozen law enforcement agencies came together on Aug. 25 to serve search warrants in two Tulare County communities in an attempt to identify gang members and seize illegal weapons.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, with the help of several other law enforcement agencies, served 23 search warrants simultaneously in the cities of Richgrove and Delano.

The search warrants are known in the law enforcement community as “Gang Association” warrants, officials said.

“Serving each location at the same time allows us to keep evidence from being moved from one location to another and deters communication between gang associates during the detail,” said Sgt.Rob Moore, supervisor for the South County Team of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit.

Gang Association warrants are different from regular search warrants because they don’t justify a specific person, time or place, he said.

They identify a specific gang and its members who are involved in criminal activities, and allow law enforcement officials to search for evidence of crimes known to be committed by these specific gangs, according to the sheriff’s office.

The warrants also help officers identify people who are associated with specific gangs and validate them as gang members.

“A (Gang) Association warrant is helpful in the fact that not only have we identified affiliates of these gangs and known gang members, but now we are able to identify those who are hiding under the protection of lying to law enforcement or lying to the court system and now we are able to associate them with an actual gang or associate them with gang members,” said Mike Boudreaux with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Investigation Bureau.

The sheriff’s office served the warrants in the cities of Richgrove and Delano due to the high level of criminal activity reported in the area.

“The Richgrove area had numerous complaints from citizens involving acts of violence. Some of those acts of violence include shootings and we were specifically looking for gang members
affiliated or associated with these known gang groups involved in these acts,” Boudreaux said.

Through a thorough investigation, it was discovered that several subjects and addresses for assaults and drive-by shootings in the area were associated with the Northern and Southern criminal street gangs,
according to the sheriff’s office.

While serving the 23 search warrants, officers conducted 56 field interviews and made four arrests. They also seized six handguns, 10 rifles, two assault rifles, a baton, nunchucks, ammunition, and other miscellaneous items including gang indicia, cell phones, flash drives, and laptops.

Suspects arrested were: Victor Castro, 20; Veronica Luis Perez, 33; Luis Cortez, 19; and Jose Salazar, 33.

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Brandon Espinoza, 19, of Montebello; Aaron Salinas, 19, of Whittier; Viana Arevalo, 20, of Whittier; and a juvenile male whose name was not released were all taken into custody following the incident which began to unfold about 6:45 p.m. on Pacific Coast Highway at 7th Street.

According to a police report, the 25-year old victim was crossing Pacific Coast Highway and, as he reached the north side of the street, was confronted by the four subjects as they drove by in a silver Infinity. A verbal clash ensued, the Infinity coming to a stop and the four occupants emerging to attack the lone pedestrian.

During the physical altercation that followed, the victim was stabbed several times and some of his possessions were stolen. The four suspects then got back into the Infinity and took off westbound.

Huntington Beach police were able to identify and locate the vehicle a few miles north as it continued down Pacific Coast Highway past Bolsa Chica State Beach. Attempts by officers to pull the car over initially failed as the suspects made an effort to escape, turning northbound up Warner Avenue.

The pursuit was short-lived, however, as the driver soon pulled over and the four suspects were taken into custody.

Espinoza faces charges of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon; Salinas was arrested for suspicion of robbery and evading; and Arelalo suspicion of robbery. Any charges against the male juvenile were unavailable and the investigation is ongoing.

Despite reports that he had been stabbed and suffered other lacerations, the victim declined any medical treatment at the scene.

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