Police arrest gang member for carjacking, jail lets him out

FRESNO – A Bulldog gang member suspected of stealing a car at gunpoint over the weekend was arrested, but let out of jail within hours.

The Fresno Police Department arrested 18-year-old Anthony Spears on charges of carjacking and being a member of a criminal street gang.

Anthony Spears was arrested, but is out on his own recognizance

The incident happened on Sunday around 7 p.m. Zhorn Piliposyan of Fresno was sitting inside of his parked vehicle outside of the Amtrak Train Station in downtown Fresno. He was confronted by two suspects, one who was armed with a handgun.

The suspect with the gun told the victim he was a Bulldog gang member and ordered him out of the car. Piliposyan was scared that if he did not do what he was told, the suspect would shoot him. Piliposyan got out of the car and the suspects got in and drove away, police said.

Officers found the car later that evening, abandoned behind a business at Blackstone Avenue and Saginaw Way. Inside, officers found documents that linked Spears to the carjacking. They also found a pellet pistol that strongly resembled a real gun inside the car.

Around four hours later, police spotted Spears near Ninth Street and Bulldog Lane. Police say that Spears, who has an extensive criminal history, admitted to his involvement in the carjacking. He was arrested without incident.

Spears was booked into the Fresno County Jail, but was freed at 1:44 a.m. on Monday because he was not considered to be a violent criminal as part of the jail’s release program.

The second suspect involved in the carjacking has not been found. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Fresno Police Department’s robbery unit at (559) 621-2420 or Crime Stoppers at (55) 498-STOP.

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