Ventura County – If you’re known to be affiliated with an unlawful street gang and are even “documented” as such by your local law enforcement agencies, and you’ve got a history that includes being on parole for felony attempted murder, it might not be the best idea to be hanging around a stolen car with two of your friends who happen to have personal histories mirroring your own.
A good idea or not, it was apparently one of many that Jose Puga, a 24-year old resident of Ventura had in mind on August 29th . It was just after noon—the veritable definition of “in broad daylight”–when, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Det. Jarrod Foote, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit responded to the report of a stolen black Chevrolet having been sighted in the unincorporated area of Saticoy, just east of the City of Ventura.
Upon arrival at the reported scene, the deputies spotted Puga and two others, Victor Flores, 24, and Jesus Alvarez, 20, “associating” in the proximity of the stolen Chevy. As all three gentlemen are known to be affiliates of the same criminal street gang, one can only surmise the interest deputies took in the trio. A short while later, in fact, Puga—on active parole for robbery with “active felony warrants for his arrest” clouding his future—and Flores entered the stolen vehicle and drove toward the City of Santa Paula.
It was in Santa Paula that the Sheriff’s Gang Unit and Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies dispatched from their headquarters division effected a traffic stop upon the Chevy and its occupants. Both Puga and Flores were taken into custody, and the ensuing search of the stolen car revealed controlled substances in their possession. Both were arrested and charged with transportation of a controlled substance with gang enhancements.
While he may have avoided arrest for riding around in the stolen Chevy, Alvarez was contacted a short while later and arrested for conspiracy to commit a crime with gang enhancements.
All three men were transported to Ventura County Jail and booked on the aforementioned charges
Read more:
EdHat: Stolen Vehicle Arrests
Citizens Journal: Deputies arrest suspected gang members
