Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Sheriff’s Gang Unit continued its anti-gang saturation patrol on Wednesday by arresting seven subjects and seizing one gun. This enforcement stance is an effort by the Sheriff’s Department to stem a recent spike in drive by shootings.

Previously on 11-9-2008, a 17 year-old male was one of 14 people arrested during a three day enforcement operation by the Sheriff’s Gang Unit. The 17 year old’s arrest began just before midnight when gang investigators saw three gang members in the 2900 block of Friedrich Rd. As gang investigators approached the three, two of the subjects ran. Deputies gave chase and caught the 17 year old a short distance away. During the arrest, the juvenile removed a gun from his waistband. He was disarmed by a deputy and taken into custody. The two others who fled were not apprehended at that time.

Follow-up investigation led deputies to identify one of the subjects that fled as Jorge Frutos Flores, who is on parole for grand theft auto. On Wednesday, gang investigators arrested Flores at his home for violating his parole by associating with gang members.

Investigators also contacted and arrested several gang associates of the 17-year-old male, including Jorge Jose Flores. Gang investigators went to Flores’ residence in Oxnard, in an attempt to serve a narcotics arrest warrant. Deputies knocked on the door and received no response. When they entered the home through the front door, Flores threw a loaded .45 caliber handgun and a box of ammunition out a bedroom window. Flores was arrested for the outstanding narcotics warrant and for being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm.

Also arrested during the enforcement efforts were Anthony Sotelo for a counterfeiting warrant, Andrew Lozano for a narcotics warrants, Gabriel Morales and Vincente Flores both for weapons charges, and James Campbell for a no-bail hate crime warrant.