By Kara Machado
Sentinel Reporter
KETTLEMAN CITY - Eleven arrests were made Friday through Wednesday following an investigation into a gang-related fight that occurred in August. Three more suspects remained at large today.
The Kings County Gang Task Force, along with officers from the Sheriff's Department, Probation Department and the Avenal substation did a sweep Friday of suspected gang members who allegedly attacked rival gang members during an Aug. 17 party in Kettleman City. The sweep took place at approximately 4 p.m.
According to GTF Field Supervisor Julian Lemus, the sweep came after two weeks of putting together information on those subsequently arrested.
"I used photo lineups of gang members to get some of the people who were there identified," Lemus said. "And, that's how we came up with the ones we were going after."
The initial incident reportedly occurred during a party where Soreno gang members from Kettleman City, Avenal, Stratford and Huron had been invited. Lemus said there were at least 100 people at the party.
"Some of the Nortenos from Kettleman City caught wind of the big party and went to see if there were any Soreno gang members," Lemus said. "They first sent out three people to check out the party."
"The Nortenos saw that there were some people who looked like Sorenos and recognized others to be Sorenos from Avenal," Lemus said. "They were told to leave because, obviously, they were not there as invited guests or to even enjoy the party."
Lemus said the Nortenos did leave, "not very happy," and came back with another five or six Nortenos. Apparently, the larger group of Nortenos hung out in the vicinity of the party, reportedly "harassing people who were coming to the party" as guests.
"It was at the point that the Nortenos were going to everyone showing up at the party, asking them if they were gang members, Sorenos, where they were from and would tell them to leave town," Lemus said. "This obviously didn't go over too well with the people at the party."
"When the people at the party realized there were more Nortenos and that the potential for a fight to take place was greater now, a lot of party-goers decided to tell the Nortenos to leave because they didn't want any problems ... there were too many there together now," Lemus said.
According to Lemus, the party-goers told the Nortenos, again, to leave and the Nortenos informed the party-goers that they were going to get more Nortenos. Lemus said approximately 18 to 20 more Nortenos reportedly returned. He said there was an exchange between the Nortenos and the partygoers.
"The problem was, the Nortenos were now armed with fence boards taken off of fences on their way back to the party, baseball bats and also large rocks picked up from a vacant lot," Lemus said. "And, at one point they decided to start fighting."
Lemus said the Nortenos rushed into the people at the party - where there were several children, including one infant - and proceeded to beat people with sticks and bats, and throw metal folding chairs, beer bottles and rocks into the crowd.
Several 911 calls were placed from different residents in the area, as well as from the person throwing the party, Lemus said. As soon as the lights and sirens were noticed, "everyone started jumping fences and no one was apprehended," he said.
As a result of the melee, several people were injured.
"In fact, the victims injured most were injured because they were trying to shield kids from being injured or while trying to take kids away," Lemus said.
After Friday's sweep, the following people were arrested:
Valentine Leon, 19, and Miguel Madera, 18, both of Avenal; Yulie Anna Meza, 18, Jesus Manuel Alatorre, 20, Arturo Meza, 19, Miguel Angel Avila, 22, Joaquin Cerda, 23, Jose Angel Jimmeye, 18, and Isaias Rodriguez, 21, all of Kettleman City, were arrested on a slew of combined felony charges of assault causing great bodily injury, threat to terrorize, willful cruelty to a child, vandalism, and street terror. Bail amounts ranged from $200,000 to $350,000, depending on the individuals and their respective charges.
Raul Lopez Torres, 37, of Kettleman City, was also picked up during the sweep, but for outstanding warrants. His bail was set at $6,000.
On Wednesday, Lemus said, an additional 17-year-old Kettleman City male was arrested. He said there are three outstanding suspects that GTF is searching for.
(The reporter may be reached at [email protected])
Sentinel Reporter
KETTLEMAN CITY - Eleven arrests were made Friday through Wednesday following an investigation into a gang-related fight that occurred in August. Three more suspects remained at large today.
The Kings County Gang Task Force, along with officers from the Sheriff's Department, Probation Department and the Avenal substation did a sweep Friday of suspected gang members who allegedly attacked rival gang members during an Aug. 17 party in Kettleman City. The sweep took place at approximately 4 p.m.
According to GTF Field Supervisor Julian Lemus, the sweep came after two weeks of putting together information on those subsequently arrested.
"I used photo lineups of gang members to get some of the people who were there identified," Lemus said. "And, that's how we came up with the ones we were going after."
The initial incident reportedly occurred during a party where Soreno gang members from Kettleman City, Avenal, Stratford and Huron had been invited. Lemus said there were at least 100 people at the party.
"Some of the Nortenos from Kettleman City caught wind of the big party and went to see if there were any Soreno gang members," Lemus said. "They first sent out three people to check out the party."
"The Nortenos saw that there were some people who looked like Sorenos and recognized others to be Sorenos from Avenal," Lemus said. "They were told to leave because, obviously, they were not there as invited guests or to even enjoy the party."
Lemus said the Nortenos did leave, "not very happy," and came back with another five or six Nortenos. Apparently, the larger group of Nortenos hung out in the vicinity of the party, reportedly "harassing people who were coming to the party" as guests.
"It was at the point that the Nortenos were going to everyone showing up at the party, asking them if they were gang members, Sorenos, where they were from and would tell them to leave town," Lemus said. "This obviously didn't go over too well with the people at the party."
"When the people at the party realized there were more Nortenos and that the potential for a fight to take place was greater now, a lot of party-goers decided to tell the Nortenos to leave because they didn't want any problems ... there were too many there together now," Lemus said.
According to Lemus, the party-goers told the Nortenos, again, to leave and the Nortenos informed the party-goers that they were going to get more Nortenos. Lemus said approximately 18 to 20 more Nortenos reportedly returned. He said there was an exchange between the Nortenos and the partygoers.
"The problem was, the Nortenos were now armed with fence boards taken off of fences on their way back to the party, baseball bats and also large rocks picked up from a vacant lot," Lemus said. "And, at one point they decided to start fighting."
Lemus said the Nortenos rushed into the people at the party - where there were several children, including one infant - and proceeded to beat people with sticks and bats, and throw metal folding chairs, beer bottles and rocks into the crowd.
Several 911 calls were placed from different residents in the area, as well as from the person throwing the party, Lemus said. As soon as the lights and sirens were noticed, "everyone started jumping fences and no one was apprehended," he said.
As a result of the melee, several people were injured.
"In fact, the victims injured most were injured because they were trying to shield kids from being injured or while trying to take kids away," Lemus said.
After Friday's sweep, the following people were arrested:
Valentine Leon, 19, and Miguel Madera, 18, both of Avenal; Yulie Anna Meza, 18, Jesus Manuel Alatorre, 20, Arturo Meza, 19, Miguel Angel Avila, 22, Joaquin Cerda, 23, Jose Angel Jimmeye, 18, and Isaias Rodriguez, 21, all of Kettleman City, were arrested on a slew of combined felony charges of assault causing great bodily injury, threat to terrorize, willful cruelty to a child, vandalism, and street terror. Bail amounts ranged from $200,000 to $350,000, depending on the individuals and their respective charges.
Raul Lopez Torres, 37, of Kettleman City, was also picked up during the sweep, but for outstanding warrants. His bail was set at $6,000.
On Wednesday, Lemus said, an additional 17-year-old Kettleman City male was arrested. He said there are three outstanding suspects that GTF is searching for.
(The reporter may be reached at [email protected])
