January 05, 2010 7:51 PM

3 gang members arrested on robbery charge

By ELYSSE JAMES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

One of the suspects pistol-whipped the woman and fled with about $200, police said. Officers on their way to the home chased the car, a black Lexus speeding with its lights off, into Santa Ana.

Officers lost the car when the driver headed into oncoming traffic, but found the Lexus abandoned in the 500 block of N. Lyon Street in Santa Ana. The men had escaped on foot, police said.

The license plate had been altered with electrical tape, but police found that the car is owned by 31-year-old Jose Zendejas, of Santa Ana.

Zendejas was arrested Saturday at his girlfriend's home in Long Beach, according to police, and is being charged with robbery and street terrorism along with a second suspect, Ernesto Garcia, 31.

Garcia was arrested at an industrial park where he'd been living in the 600 block of S. Grand Avenue in Santa Ana.

The third man, Alberto Penaloza, 32, was arrested Sunday in the 2200 block of Santa Clara Avenue in Santa Ana after leading officers on a short foot chase, police said. Penaloza is on parole and, according to police, had been deported in the past.

Detectives found a loaded 9mm handgun inside Penaloza's home that officers believe was used to pistol-whip the woman in Tustin. She was treated at Santa Ana Western Medical Center.

The gun had been reported stolen after a residential burglary in Santa Ana in 2004.

Penaloza is being charged with robbery, street terrorism, possession of a controlled substance for sale and for being a convicted felon in possession of a stolen firearm.

The officers also found methamphetamine and evidence of sales of the drug. Penaloza's roommate, Mayra Dosal, 23, also was arrested, police said, and is being charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale.

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