LAKE COUNTY — Five Kelseyville residents were arrested in a Lake County Gang Task Force operation on Dec. 28.
A press release written by Lt. Dave Garzoli of the Lake County Sheriff”s Department says 17 law enforcement officers from five agencies joined in the effort “against known or suspected members of criminal street gangs.”
Armando Barajas Vasquez, 18, was arrested on charges of having a dangerous weapon with a street gang member enhancement charge. Brittney Leanne Amparo, 18, was arrested on a charge of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana. Alfredo Corona-Ramirez, 20, was arrested on a charge of obstructing or resisting a peace officer. Two males, both 16, were arrested on probation violation charges.
The LCSD press release says that the coordinated enforcement effort happened at various locations in and around the Lakeport and Kelseyville areas. It is one of the task force”s several periodic enforcement periods.
Detective Norm Taylor of the Lakeport Police Department said at a December meeting of the Lake County Board of Supervisors that based on the task force”s contacts on the street, there are an estimated 100-plus known gang members in Lake County. Taylor called that number “an extremely conservative estimate.” Taylor said there are more than 500 known gang members in Mendocino County, an estimated 700 in Napa County and more than 2,000 in Sonoma County.
Supporting agencies included the LCSD”s patrol and investigations division and central dispatch, Lakeport Police Department, Lake County Probation Department, California Highway Patrol and Lake County Narcotics Task Force.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
