PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lt. Robert Benton
DATE: February 2, 2009 PHONE: 760-839-4700

Collaborative Gang Sweep Nets 37 arrests

On January 24, 2009, 70 officers, deputies, and special agents conducted a street level gangenforcement operation resulting in 37 arrests, 15 citations, and 54 parole and probationsearches. Of those arrested, one was a fugitive from a Mexican Prison and another wasarrested for possession of a controlled substance for sales.

This operation was paid for by a grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial fund. Escondido hosted the special detail which comprised of state, local and federal agencies. The ten houroperation started at 4 p.m. and lasted to 2 a.m., with the emphasis on contacting, identifying,and arresting known or suspected gang members. This is the 23rd collaborative operationfunded by this grant since January of 2008.

This grant was applied for, and received by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department in January of2008. It was created to provide a multi-agency partnership between a number of North Countylaw enforcement agencies and related departments to combat street level violent gang crime.This series of operations have allowed neighboring local, state and federal agencies to worktogether at decreasing violent gang related in North San Diego County.

Of the 37 arrests, 7 were for warrant arrests, 2 for possession of narcotics, 1 violation of parole,4 for probation violations, 2 for driving under the influence, 2 for possession of marijuana forsales, 1 for under the influence of a controlled substance, 6 for public intoxication. 3 of theabove arrests had ICE holds placed on them, and an additional 10 were arrested by ICE for immigration violations. All 10 had prior criminal records and 3 were prior deports, including,34-year-old Jose Antonio Solis-Martinez. Solis-Martinez is a reported escapee from a MexicanPrison in 2004. He was taken by ICE and released to Mexican officials. Also arrested was 28year old, Abrahim Mohammed Falahi for possession of a controlled substance and possessionof a controlled substance for sales.

Agencies who participated in this operation included; the San Diego Sheriff’s Department,Oceanside Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, California Highway Patrol,California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Children Services, San Diego DistrictAttorney Office, San Diego County Probation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Immigrationand Customs Enforcement and SANDAG.

To report any suspicious activities in your neighborhood, you may contact the PoliceDepartment directly, or you may make an unidentified call on our “Anonymous Tip Lineâ€