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- Written by: Lake County News reports
OAKLAND – State officials on Tuesday announced a major takedown of key members of the Nuestra Familia gang who allegedly commit murders and other violent crimes “orchestrated in prison” by gang leaders using cell phones.
As part of an operation code-named "Street Sweeper," a joint task force of 250 state and local law enforcement agents led by Attorney General Jerry Brown's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement concluded a year-long series of arrests attacking the hierarchy of prison gangs.
On Tuesday in Visalia and surrounding areas, agents arrested 34 gang members, including four local gang leaders. Five other Nuestra Familia leaders were incarcerated in earlier operations.
“Operation Street Sweeper represents a big step forward in reducing vicious street crimes orchestrated in prison by the Nuestra Familia hierarchy,” Brown said.
He said Tuesday's operation “has stripped the dangerous Nuestra Familia gang of key managers who carry out orders from its imprisoned leaders.”
Launched in Folsom Prison in 1968, Nuestra Familia is one of seven prison gangs in the state. Through top-down leadership, Nuestra Familia controls illegal activities inside several prisons, as well as most of the Nortenos gangs who operate in central California from Yuba City to Bakersfield and from Salinas to the Sierra foothills.
With a sombrero resting on a dagger as its symbol, Nuestra Familia is believed to have hundreds of members inside state prisons, tens of thousands in communities and many more associates, according to gang investigators.
Three gang leaders serving life sentences direct Nuestra Familia activities from inside Pelican Bay's Secure Housing Unit, also known as the "Shu," which isolates prisoners 24 hours a day. While such confinement places some limits on the gang's ability to communicate, gang leaders are still able to direct gang members on the streets through cell phones smuggled into the prison.
"In addition to arresting street gang leaders through efforts like Operation Street Sweeper," Brown said, "we must cut imprisoned gang leaders' ability to communicate with cell phones by blocking that communication through an electronic net over Pelican Bay."
Sophisticated technology exists to jam cell phones, even selectively, within prisons, but federal law must be changed to allow that to happen. The "Safe Prisons Communications Act" has passed the Senate, and a companion bill by Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas is in committee in the House. Brown called on members of the House to approve this legislation, which is essential to cracking down on one of California's most feared prison gangs.
Gang violence has recently spiked in Central Valley communities, officials reported. So far this year, Visalia's serious gang-related murders, assaults and drive-by shootings have doubled compared to the same period last year.
"History was made today in Visalia," said Colleen Mestas, chief of the Visalia Police Department. She thanked the 300 officers from 20 law enforcement agencies that took part in the operation. "With their help, our police department has been able to make an impact on our local gang crime."
Other law enforcement agencies that assisted with Tuesday's operation are the Central Valley Regional SWAT team, Delano Police Department, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fresno Methamphetamine Task Force, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas - Central Valley and Southern Tri County, Kings County Sheriff's Department, Madera County Gang Enforcement Task Force, Madera County Narcotic Enforcement Team, Porterville Police Department, Salinas Police Department, Tulare Police Department, Tulare County Sheriff's Department and Visalia Police Department.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Firefighters were dispatched to the deadly blaze off of Old Long Valley Road shortly before 6:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Pat Brown.
Local officials did not release the name of the victim on Monday, but Brown said the man was a retired Cal Fire dozer operator and a lifelong Lake County resident.
Brown said the single family dwelling was fully involved by the time Northshore Fire personnel arrived on the scene.
He said the burning home caused some nearby oak trees to catch on fire, but firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire before it got into the wildland.
The couple had escaped but the husband returned to try to find his dog, and perished in the fire, Brown said.
Northshore Fire sent two battalion chiefs, two engines and a water tender out of the Clearlake Oaks station, with one engine and a medic unit out of the Lucerne Station, Brown said. Lake County Fire responded with a water tender under automatic aid, and Cal Fire sent two engines and two battalion chiefs.
Brown said the fire, which started inside the home, has been ruled accidental.
Investigators from both Northshore Fire and Cal Fire are documenting the blaze, he said.
When the man's body was removed from the home, Brown said firefighters draped his body in the American flag.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The fatal crash occurred at 11 p.m. Saturday, according to a Monday report from the California Highway Patrol.
A 2004 silver Dodge Stratus was traveling north on Highway 29, south of Highway 175 to Cobb, at an undetermined speed when the solo male occupant was unable to negotiate a left curve in the road, the CHP said.
The Stratus went left across the southbound lane where it hit a dirt embankment along the road's west edge. The CHP report said the vehicle spun in a counter-clockwise direction with the rear of the vehicle striking a tree, causing major inward intrusion on the rear of the car.
The vehicle continued to spin around before coming to rest facing north along Highway 29's west shoulder, the CHP said.
The report explained that a preliminary CHP investigation indicated that the rear inward intrusion caused the gas tank to ignite and start a fire.
The CHP said passing motorists stopped and attempted to help the driver while emergency personnel were en route. However, the fire burned the vehicle so quickly the driver couldn't escape.
The driver's death was attributed to the fire before it could be extinguished, the CHP said.
By the end of Monday the driver hadn't been identified. The CHP said no one else was injured due to the crash and fire.
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- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
The chip seal is intended to extend the life of the pavement, delaying major rehabilitation which will eventually cost tens of millions of dollars, the agency reported.
The new high-traction surface will increase wet weather safety and the rubberized binder is helping to recycle more than 34,000 passenger car tires. Over the next several months the aggregate, or chips, will settle and the surface will become more smooth, Caltrans reported.
These projects, with a combined cost of about $2.1 million, are complete except for construction of the center line rumble strip and final striping, which is anticipated to be completed within three weeks, according to the report.
The striping, the agency said, is being delayed due to a nationwide shortage of reflective highway paint, caused by the combination of a chemical plant breakdown earlier this year and an increased number of highway projects funded by President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
For the most current road information on all state highways, call 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit www.dot.ca.gov.
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