Last summer members of a gang crashed a birthday party of a 16-year old girl. In the melee they stabbed an 18-year man to death. They were apprehended because of new cross-city protocols that have made it much easier for police in different cities to cooperate and apprehend criminal suspects. Recently, the South Bay has seen the creation of the regional gang task force that has freed up the flow of information between different agencies.
The Mercury reports that six South Bay cities have banded together and have created the South Bay Gang Alliance. There is a total of 50 government agencies involved that reach as far as King City. The aim of this new cooperation is the unfettered movement of gang members crossing city and county borders to recruit new members. Additionally, gang related crime is spreading beyond San Jose and into residential and bedroom communities.
Further problems for the police are that gang members have contacts in other cities and even counties. Norteno members in San Jose are now sharing information and resources with their counterparts in Salinas. It is the same with the Surenos and even the smaller Pilipino and Vietnamese gangs. Now law enforcement is gearing-up to be as resourceful as many gang outfits have become. This requires cross border intelligence gathering and sting operations. They are now using "gang experts" and even former gang members to assist in investigations and analysis. The role of this new cooperation is prevention, intervention and suppression
But as the police step up their activities against gangs, other people get caught in the crosshairs. The video below is just one case, where a young man, who should have received one to three years (even less in my opinion) is now in state prison for life.
If you have been charged with a gang-related crime, or any crime you need representation. Call the Law Offices of Erik Steven Johnson at (408) 246-3004 for a free consultation. Know your rights!
