Hollister
– Police arrested eight local children Friday evening for
allegedly beating up a prospective gang member during an initiation
rite.
Hollister – Police arrested eight local children Friday evening for allegedly beating up a prospective gang member during an initiation rite.
A plainclothes San Benito County Sheriff’s deputy witnessed the attack shortly after 7pm in the 400 block of McCray Street near the Clock Tower Plaza shopping center in Hollister. When the participants realized they were being watched, they ran and tried to hide in a nearby neighborhood, according to a statement prepared by Hollister Police Sgt. George Ramirez.
Hollister Police officers tracked down the suspects and arrested them. Police declined to name the suspects because of their age.
Police called the assault a “jumping in” attack, where a prospective gang member is beaten up in order to gain entrance into the group. After the “jumping in” rite, the prospect can be considered a new member of the gang, according to police. The eight males arrested were all between the ages of 11 and 13. Each was charged with fighting in public, a misdemeanor, according to police. It was unclear as of press time on Tuesday if the prospective member had suffered any injuries before the “jumping in” rite was broken up by police.
“This case is especially alarming due to the ages of the juveniles involved, the time of the day when the incident occurred, and the very public setting the suspects chose to carry out their attacks,” Ramirez wrote in the statement.
Officials at the Hollister Police Department could not be reached for further comment. Police Chief Jeff Miller previously told the Free Lance that gangs do not draw any line in terms of age when it comes to recruitment of new members.
So far this year, there have been at least two gang-related knifings in San Benito County. Also, late last year, there were several gang-related incidents, including four drive-by shootings.
The eight suspects could face up to a year in San Benito County Juvenile Hall if convicted of fighting in public, according to the California Penal Code.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637 5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com.
