(Aug 15 2008) - Porterville Police Dept - Press Release
by Sgt. Larry M. Rodriguiz - Porterville Police Dept :
On August 15, 2008, from 0700 hours to 1200 hours, detectives with the Porterville Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Tulare County Probation Department conducted a citywide anti-Gang Suppression Detail. Investigators conducted a narcotic search warrant, 15 probation compliance searches and 15 field interviews through out the City of Porterville. These contacts and searches focused on identified criminal street gang members.
Investigating detectives made over five felony arrests and two misdemeanor warrant arrests. At one location detectives seized ½ ounce of suspected methamphetamine packaged for sales with an estimated street value of about $750. Detectives also made an arrest for a criminal street gang member threatening police officer, being members of a criminal street gang, possession of marijuana and cultivation of marijuana. The marijuana seized had an estimated street value of approximately $2,000.
Three juveniles were booked and transported to the Juvenile Detention Facility in Visalia for charges ranging from felony arrest warrants to cultivation of marijuana and being members of a criminal street gang.
David Perez was arrested for threatening a police officer for the benefit of a criminal street gang, being a member of a criminal street gang and being in violation of his felony probation. David Perez is a validated and registered criminal street gang member of the Varrio Central Poros criminal street gang.
This will be an ongoing Gang Suppression effort by the Porterville Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit and the departments Gang Unit in an effort to rid the city of criminal street gangs. Anyone with information on gang or illegal narcotics activity is encouraged to contact the Porterville Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit at 782-7400.
For more info regarding this case contact Investigating Detective(s) M. Morales and Officer J. Castellow at 782-7400.
