7 Arrested For Gang-Related Assaults In San Mateo
SAN MATEO (KCBS) - The San Mateo Police Department has arrested 7 suspects in connection with 3 separate violent gang assaults over the past week, authorities said.
The series of arrests began last Friday, when police took 20-year-old Bryant Moreno and a 17-year-old, both from San Mateo, into custody for an assault at a home on the 1600 block of Echo Avenue. The victim was hospitalized with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
"This kind of violence that we see perpetrated by gangs is a high priority," said Karen Guidotti, chief deputy for the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.
The gang-related arrests continued on Tuesday after an assault on the 500 block of Norfolk Street. Guidotti said 4 San Mateo teenagers were taken into custody on a variety of charges including assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and battery.
A 16-year-old who suffered multiple stab wounds was among those taken into custody. He was booked on charges of assault, battery and conspiracy.
The final arrest happened Wednesday after detectives received evidence that a known gang member who once lived in San Mateo was in possession of at least 1 gun.
"Some of our bigger cities are very knowledgeable on the gangs that operate in their cities," Guidotti said.
Police arrested 26-year-old Steve Ibarra Fernandez, Jr. and recovered an AK-47 assault rifle when they searched his current address in San Leandro.
Guidotti promised an aggressive prosecution of all those cases, and said future gang investigations would not be compromised by budget cuts.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
