Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force Arrests 43
On February 21, 2013, in response to a particularly violent first two months of the new year the Santa Cruz County Chief’s Association authorized an action plan dubbed “Operation Take Back.” The plan called for allied county law enforcement agencies to supplement the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force (GTF). This was done to maximize proactive enforcement and maintain GTF’s ability to be a “force multiplier” to support investigative services countywide. The operation was scheduled to run 14 consecutive days with a launch date of February 27.
The tragic February 26 murders of SCPD Sergeant Baker and Detective Butler impacted initial staffing, however, the operation launched as scheduled. Personnel from the Watsonville Police Department (WPD), Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD), Scotts Valley Police Department, Capitola Police Department, Santa Cruz Probation Department, Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, and the California Highway Patrol participated in the operation.
Statistical Summary of Operation Take Back:
Total Arrests Made: 43
- Felony: 27
- Misdemeanor: 16
- Arrests that involved Probation / Parole Violations: 12
Of the 43 subjects arrested, 26 had gang associations. Of the 12 that were on probation or parole, 11 had gang associations. Of the 43 arrests, eight were juveniles; all of which had gang associations. Three of the juvenile suspects were arrested in relation to the stabbing murder of 20 year-old Filipe Reyes. A fourth juvenile suspect was arrested, along with adult gang members, at the scene of a felonious and violent gang assault of a non-gang involved victim on February 28th, in front of the Valero gas station in Watsonville.
Total Weapons Seized: 10
- Firearms: 3
- Illegal Knives: 5
- Blunt Weapons: 2
There were nine cases in which the 10 weapons were seized. Four of those cases involved suspects with gang associations. One of the three firearms seized was reported stolen out of Salinas and was found in possession of an active gang member.
Search Warrants Served: six
Three of the Search Warrants served assisted WPD detectives in relation to the Reyes homicide investigation. A fourth Search Warrant assisted SCCACT (Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team) and resulted in the arrest of a drug trafficker and the seizure of two firearms. The remaining two warrants were authored by the GTF to address a felonious gang assault that occurred in front of the Valero gas station on February 28. The last two warrants resulted in the seizure of the stolen firearm out of Salinas and the arrest of one of the four homicide suspects in Gustine, California.
Major Investigation Assists: 3
1) SCCACT’s drug trafficker investigation, 2/28
2) Reyes homicide investigation, 2/28, 3/01, and 3/06
3) Valero gang assault, 2/28 and 3/06
GTF personnel successfully carried out the strategies of Operation Take Back. This is evidenced not only by the statistical information presented here, but also by the fact that violent crime has diminished compared to prior levels before this operation. Several recent cases have highlighted the fact that criminal street gang members were responsible for a number of crimes throughout the county. Operation Take Back greatly impacted the gang’s violent activities by the second day of the operation. Operation personnel maximized the resources and capability of WPD’s investigators to quickly identify and arrest suspects in the murder of a 20 year-old resident. Additionally, Operation Take Back’s street presence quickly put officers at the scene of an in-progress violent gang assault. This resulted in the arrest of two fleeing suspects near the scene of the crime.
The Santa Cruz County Chief’s Association and GTF are firmly committed to using all available resources to address violence and criminality in our county.
Operation Take Back personnel, working with WPD, successfully brought into custody eight active gang participants responsible for a murder and violent assault. The GTF, with allied personnel, maintained a constant street presence that resulted in 35 additional arrests during the operation.
Prepared by Mario Sulay, GTF Commander – 3/20/2013
