Photo: Gang’s confiscated guns
PORTERVILLE – Five members of a local street gang found themselves arrested following an investigation.
It began on August 18th when police arrived at a house on the 2100 block of West Tomah. Someone had fired shots into the home with several people inside, including two children.
The shooting launched an investigation into the “El Campo Loco” street gang. For two and a half months Porterville Police Department detectives investigated the shooting. They discovered first that the Southern affiliated criminal gang “El Campo Loco” was involved in the shooting. In addition, they also engaged in a variety of other crimes.
Consequently the investigation culminated November 1st. SWAT Teams from Visalia, Porterville, and Tulare teamed up. Additionally, Parole Agents with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation joined the blitz of the gang. They served search warrants throughout Tulare County, resulting in five arrests.
The suspects and their charges are as follows:
- Daniel Gonzalez, 32, of Porterville- Charged with accessory to a felony, felon in possession of firearms, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a high-capacity magazine, and participation in a criminal street gang;
- Franklin Romero, 20, Porterville- Charged with conspiracy of attempted murder and participation in a criminal street gang;
- Francisco Gutierrez, 23, Woodville- Charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, shooting into an inhabited dwelling, and participation in a criminal street gang;
- Leonel Vasquez, 21, Tulare- Charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder shooting into an inhabited dwelling, and participation in a criminal street gang;
- Erik Izquierdo, 20, Exeter- Charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, shooting into an inhabited dwelling, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and participation in a criminal street gang.
Investigators confiscated five handguns, one assault rifle, and 100s of rounds of ammunition during the searches. All five men have been booked and are in custody of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department. Finally, the Porterville Police Department stated this sweep of arrests dismantled the “El Campo Loco” gang.
