Locations:

1. 400 Block Collins Street, El Rio
2. 1900 Block Socorro Way, Oxnard
3. 2200 Block San Marino Street, Oxnard
4. 300 Block Salem Avenue, El Rio
5. 600 Block Lemon Way, Fillmore
6. 2400 Block Eric Way, Bakersfield
7. 2600 Block Mount Vernon, Bakersfield

Date & Time: 3-19-2009 to 3-20-2009
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Gang Unit

(S)uspects, Charge, City of residence, Age

1. Luis Valenzuela, Oxnard, 20
Attempt robbery
Street terrorism

2. Eddie Velasquez, El Rio, 38
Felon in possession of ammunition
Violation of parole

3. Roberta Hernandez, El Rio, 58
Obstruct Police Officer

4. Roberta Hernandez, El Rio, 30
Obstruct Police Officer

5. Mario Gaona, El Rio, 29
Felon possess firearm

6. Jose Aguilar, Fillmore, 22
Attempt murder
Shooting at inhabited dwelling
Street terrorism

7. Arturo Isarraras, Bakersfield, 18
Attempt murder
Shooting at inhabited dwelling
Street terrorism

The Sheriff’s Gang Unit served seven search warrants over the last three days that resulted in the arrest of 7 individuals for various charges. The search warrants were served as the result of two separate violent crimes involving gang members.

The first investigation started on 2-27-2009, when three El Rio gang members approached a group of three subjects at a gas station in the 2800 block of Vineyard Ave, El Rio. One of the gang members pointed a gun at the victims and tried to rob them. The three victims were able to run to safety. Patrol deputies found two of the suspects a short distance away. Gang investigators responded and were able to positively identify Jonathan Aguilar, 29 yrs, and Victor Dearcos, 26 yrs, as two of the suspects. Both were arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail.

Gang investigators were later able to identify the third suspect as Luis Valenzuela. During the investigation, gang investigators obtained search warrants for five residences in an effort to collect evidence and find the gun used in the attempt robbery. On 3-19-2009, they served two of the search warrants in the 400 block of Collins Street and 1900 block of Soccoro Way. Investigators found Valenzuela in one of the residences and arrested him for charges that include attempt robbery and street terrorism. Eddie Velasquez who was wanted for violation of his parole terms, was also arrested. Velasquez, a convicted felon, was also found in possession of ammunition.

On 3-20-2009, gang investigators served the last two search warrants in this case in the 2200 block of San Marino Street and the 300 block of Salem Avenue. When investigators went to the Salem Avenue address, they found several gang members in the open garage of the residence. While trying to detain the subjects, they found one of the gang members, Mario Gaona, had a loaded handgun in his waistband. As deputies tried to take him into custody, family members came out of the residence and confronted the deputies. During the altercation, Roberta Hernandez, and her daughter, also named Roberta Hernandez, were arrested for obstructing the deputies in the performance of their duties. All arrestees were booked into the Ventura County Jail for their respective charges.

The second investigation started on 3-11-2009, when a subject walked to the corner of Main Street and Citrus View in the community of Piru. The lone suspect confronted a group of gang members standing in front of a residence in the 3900 block of Citrus View Drive. During the confrontation, the lone subject pulled a gun out of his pocket and fired several rounds at the subjects. No one was his hit and most of the bullets struck a neighbor’s house. Witnesses reported seeing a white compact vehicle leave the scene.

Investigators identified the suspect in the shooting as Fillmore gang member Jose Aguilar. They also identified the vehicle seen leaving the scene and located it in the 2600 block of Mount Vernon, Bakersfield.
They obtained a search warrant for Aguilar’s residence in the 600 block of Lemon Way, Fillmore, as well as two additional residences in the City of Bakersfield. On 3-20-2009, The Sheriff’s Gang Unit and the Fillmore Gang Unit served the three warrants. During the service of the warrants, they arrested Jose Aguilar and Arturo Isarraras. Both were arrested for charges that include attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and street terrorism. Both were booked into the Ventura County jail and both are being held on $505,000.00 bail.