The three boys were arrested on charges of suspicion of attempted murder and probation violations and booked into Juvenile Hall. Romero was charged with attempted murder, and Vela with outstanding warrants; both were taken to Ventura County Jail.Officials from the Santa Paula, Oxnard, Los Angeles, Port Hueneme and Santa Barbara police departments assisted in the raids, as did the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and Probation Department. The California Highway Patrol and the Ventura County and Los Angeles County sheriff’s departments also assisted in the action.SPPD Commander Mark Hanson noted that mutual aid on such actions is common: “We have a couple of people from other agencies to help out when we do it... when you do these multi-agency searches it takes a lot of resources, a lot of people,” including parole and probation personnel. “We’ve had people come down from as far as Atascadero and Los Angeles Homeland Security... we reap and then sometimes we have to pay back.”The targeting of gangs countywide is part of a continuing effort to eradicate violent and other gang related crimes, including graffiti. Oxnard even has an injunction on one particularly violent gang, and is “looking at another one,” noted Commander Hanson.
SPPD involved in multi-agency Simi Valley gang raids
August 17, 2005
Santa Paula Police Department
Santa Paula police were involved in a multi-agency task force that arrested five alleged members - including three 15-year-old boys - of a Simi Valley gang, part of the continuing countywide crackdown on gang activity.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula police were involved in a multi-agency task force that arrested five alleged members - including three 15-year-old boys - of a Simi Valley gang, part of the continuing countywide crackdown on gang activity.Although Ventura County ranks among the safest nationwide, with Simi Valley often topping the list of safest cities of like population, gang activity is present in every city and the unincorporated areas according to law enforcement officials.The five alleged Simi Valley gang members were arrested August 10 in connection with a July 1 stabbing of a 15-year-old boy outside a 7-Eleven at Yosemite and Los Angeles Avenues. Anthony Romero, 22, and Christopher Vela, 19, both of Simi Valley, were arrested along with three 15-year-old boys in the raids that targeted 10 homes in three cities.
