Wild Party Ends with Five Arrested in Hollister

HOLLISTER—The Hollister Police Department arrested five known gang members after a weekend party got out of hand and ended with one man severely beaten.

The incident started around 4 a.m. when a Hispanic male adult, who was at the party at 1090 Caputo Court was asked, “Where was he from?” When he responded that he was not from the area approximately 10-15 gang members began to beat him.

“The victim who attended the party said he was not from the area but his wife was from Hollister.” Captain Carlos Reynoso of the Hollister Police Department said. “The victim did not say anything against them.He just answered their question and in their “Gang mentality” they decided to beat him up.”

Friends of the victim were able to get him in a car when the suspects shot at them.  Officer Erik Morris of the Hollister Police Department, who was responding to a 911 call, noticed a vehicle with no light on pull up the intersection of Caputo Court and Memorial Drive.  He heard a gunshot shortly after noticing the vehicle.  The vehicle then sped away at a high-rate of speed through a red light.

Officer Morris chased the vehicle until it stopped at Hillcrest Road.  While Officer Morris was detaining the victim and witnesses he noticed a suspicious vehicle drive by.  He asked additional units to make contact with the occupants of the vehicle.  Officer Michael Paddy of the Hollister Police Department located the vehicle and attempted to stop it.  The driver of the vehicle refused to stop and led Officer Paddy on a vehicle pursuit.

The vehicle came to a stop behind the Chase Bank on Tres Pinos Road after San Benito Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Mull joining in the pursuit.  Three suspects then exited the vehicle and ran.  Officer Paddy noticed that one of the suspects had a gun in his hand and chased the suspect while Deputy Mull detained the other four suspects at gunpoint in the vehicle.

Kelly Burbank, a sergeant with the San Benito Sheriff’s Department, was monitoring the pursuit so he decided to come around of the opposite side of the businesses to try and locate the suspect with the gun.  Officer Paddy and Sergeant Burbank were able to corner the suspect and take him into custody without further incident.

Two other suspects were able to jump the fence and get away.  Officers searched the area and did not find the other suspects. Arrested and booked into the San Benito County Jail were Stephanie Fernandez, 19, arrested for evading police, accessory and conspiracy, Larry Quiroz, 20, arrested for attempted murder, carrying a loaded firearm, being a felon with a firearm, being a gang member with a firearm, resisting arrest and conspiracy and Jacob Vargas, 21, arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy. David Villarreal, 24, also arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy. All of the suspects were from Hollister.

One 16-year-old that was booked into the San Benito Juvenile detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.

The victim was flown by helicopter to a Bay Area hospital.   “The victim as of today, Wednesday, is in stable condition recovering from non-life threatening injuries,” Captain Reynoso added.

The Hollister Police Department is still investigating this incident and is asking anyone with information to please contact them at 1-831-636-4330.  Person wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTIP at (800) 78-CRIME.

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