Hollister
– Local law enforcement officials are watching the streets
closely and beefing up patrols following a rash of gang-related
violence in both Hollister and Gilroy during the last month.
Hollister – Local law enforcement officials are watching the streets closely and beefing up patrols following a rash of gang-related violence in both Hollister and Gilroy during the last month.
Law enforcement officials believe violence in the two cities could be related. Two stabbings and a gang-related beating during the last month in Hollister have Hollister Police and San Benito County Sheriff’s department officials concerned. And Gilroy’s Anti-Crime Team is on high alert following two shootings and two separate beatings of innocent victims within a recent one-week span in that city.
Gang members don’t stop at county or city lines, said San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill.
“They’re all connected at the top,” he said. “There could be pressure being put on gang members at the street level from the top guys. And there’s no boundaries for these guys, so there might be a nexus. We have to watch it closely.”
Hollister police are investigating a gang-related beating on Sunday night that sent a 16-year-old Hollister male to the hospital with moderate injuries to the head, said Capt. Richard Vasquez. Witnesses told police that two men driving a red Chevy Silverado approached the victim at a park near Pine Street and asked him what gang he belonged to. The victim said he no longer belonged to a gang. The two suspects called the 16-year-old a “scrap” – a gang dropout, Vasquez said. The victim was kicked and hit repeatedly, Vasquez said. Police are still investigating the incident, but do not have any suspects, Vasquez said. A similar incident occurred in Gilroy’s Las Animas park in early April. A man and his son were playing handball when men police believe were gang members asked the father if he was in a gang. When the victim said no, the alleged gang members attacked him and his son.
On Friday, police arrested two suspected of a gang-related stabbing two weeks ago on South Street. Hollister resident Isaiah Miranda, 21, and a 17-year-old Hollister male were arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, battery and participation in a criminal street gang, Vasquez said. Police said there is no indication this stabbing was retaliatory.
Both suspects are believed to have been involved in the stabbing of 21-year-old Hollister resident Nicholas Ramos two weeks ago after an altercation regarding gang affiliation at a nearby 7-11 convenience store on March 28, Vasquez said. Police believe the suspects followed Ramos from the store to South Street before ordering him out of his vehicle and stabbing him. Ramos also denied being a gang-member. Miranda, a suspected Norteño, is being held at the San Benito County Jail in lieu of $65,000 bail. Vasquez said detectives are still looking for a third man believed to have been involved in the stabbing.
Police Chief Jeff Miller called the incidents evidence of a “mini upsurge.” Miller said it was “mini” compared to the rash of gang shootings that plagued Hollister during last two months of 2005.
“We see occasional surges. That is going to happen from time to time,” he said. “We don’t like it, but we will address it.”
Miller said he didn’t know if the gang activity in Hollister was related to crime in Gilroy. Retaliation, he said, isn’t guaranteed.
“Any gang violence is disconcerting,” Miller said. “We’re always aware of the possibility (of retaliation), but I can’t put a probability on it.”
Police and Sheriff’s deputies will increase patrols throughout the city with a focus on gang-hot spots, officials said. The Gang Task Force will meet May 3 at Rancho San Justo Middle School to discuss what local businesses can do to help fight gang violence in San Benito County, Miller said.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or
br******@fr***********.com
.
