Suspected gang member arrested




Angel Villegas

Police say drugs, firearm, bulletproof vest founded inside car during traffic stop

Huntington Beach Independent
Thursday, February 4, 2010

Police found drugs, a loaded firearm and a bulletproof vest when they arrested a suspected gang member trying to evade officers during a traffic stop in Huntington Beach.

Angel Villegas, 21, of Riverside and his passenger, Lorena Mercado, 28, of Tustin, were arrested Jan. 19. Villegas was booked on suspicion of transporting and possessing a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, having a loaded firearm, participating in criminal street activity and possession of a firearm during street gang activity.

Mercado was arrested on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child, and an immigration hold was placed on her, according to police records.

Villegas was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe near Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue when officers attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation at about 1:30 a.m., Lt. Russell Reinhart said.

Villegas refused to pull over, and police pursued the vehicle east on Edinger to Bushard Street in Fountain Valley where Villegas lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a cinder-block wall, Reinhart said. He tried to drive away again, but the vehicle was too damaged.

An investigation revealed Villegas is a member of the street gang “Dark Side Assassinsâ€