Local law enforcement joined forces Wednesday night in
preparation for the Hollister Independence Rally, conducting a
sweep of 22 homes and making eight arrests of probation and parole
offenders with suspected gang ties, according to police.
Hollister – Local law enforcement joined forces Wednesday night in preparation for the Hollister Independence Rally, conducting a sweep of 22 homes and making eight arrests of probation and parole offenders with suspected gang ties, according to police.
Hollister police, San Benito County probation officers and state parole agents spent some six hours Wednesday checking up on people in the hope of cutting down on crime during the rally, according to Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller.
The first such joint-agency sweep took place just before last year’s Fourth of July rally. It resulted in 11 arrests, with nearly 30 homes checked.
“Some of the problems (during the rally) are between local gang members or their associations or affiliates and the people who attend,” Miller said. “Last year we reduced the possibility of these confrontations. People noticed last year seemed to be calmer.”
Wednesday’s sweep marked the fourth sweep law enforcement has conducted since last year as part of the police department’s gang suppression strategy, Miller said. While not all the offenders have gang ties, the overriding message is directed at anyone on probation or parole, he said.
“You need to abide by the conditions of your release or you will merit the attention of law enforcement,” Miller said.
The 14-member team focused on probationers and parolees who had submitted a positive drug test, missed an appointment with a probation officer, were found to be associating with known gang members, had a warrant for their arrest, or exhibited factors that placed them “at risk” to violate parole or probation conditions, according to Head Probation Officer Deborah Botts.
While eight local residents were arrested, 16 were found to be in compliance with the terms of their parole or probation, she said. Botts said one of the positive aspects of the sweeps is to reinforce the behavior of people complying with the conditions of their convictions.
Most of the re-arrests were due to drug-related offenses. Botts said 80 percent of offenders are involved with drugs in one way or another.
“For some reason there’s always the mentality that it’s just not fair. It’s real important to let them know we’re watching,” Botts said. “One of the good things about the sweeps is the ones who don’t want to change, the more we hope we wear them out. If they don’t recognize the negative impact drugs are having on their lives, we’re there to provide that.”
Most of those taken into custody went without incident, but two men were also charged for resisting arrest, according to Hollister Police spokesman George Ramirez. Both tried to flee but were quickly apprehended without injury.
“It’s a success because we were able to identify and arrest the people who were not in compliance,” Ramirez said, “and at the same time it’s a success because there are people on probation and parole who are abiding by the rules.”
The eight offenders arrested in the sweep include: Alex Sandoval, 23, Manuel Sandoval, 28, Anthony Torres, Sr., 44, Anthony Torres, Jr., 23, Abraham Amaya, 19, Saul Nieto, 23, Genise Pelaiz, 18, and Adrian Cortez, 19.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
