California
Joint Task Force Arrests 35 Country Boys Crips Gang Members
A three-month investigation into the criminal activities of Bakersfield’s Country Boys Crips street gang has resulted in 35 arrests.
The arrests, along with the seizure of 15 firearms, illegal narcotics, and stolen items, were announced Tuesday by state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Bakersfield Police Chief Kyle Martin, and Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer.
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“Today’s operation was the latest example of our strategic and surgical approach towards impacting gang violence,” Bakersfield Police Chief Martin said in a news release. “By partnering with our local, state and federal law enforcement agencies we are able to better serve our community and carry out the true mission of law enforcement.”
Related Story: West Side Crips Gang Member Headed to Prison for Nearly 27 Years
Thanks to a collaborative effort with the Bakersfield Police Department, we have taken down a dangerous gang that has terrorized the Bakersfield community.” — State AG Xavier Becerra
Operation Deep South
Operation Deep South targeted criminal activities by the Country Boy Crips, which claims parts of south Bakersfield as its territory. According to the website unitedgangs.com, the “gang’s traditional territory stretched from Cottonwood Road to Union Avenue, between East White Lane and East Belle Terrace.”
“Gang activity has proven to be the primary cause of our County’s elevated homicide rate,” Zimmer said. “Today’s operation strikes back by targeting gang crimes and using intelligence-driven policing to suppress and reduce violent crime.”
Suspects ID’d in Multiple Gang Shootings
Law enforcement officials said that as a result of the investigation, agents were able to identify suspects believed to be responsible for multiple gang shootings and attempted murder. The probe also identified individuals believed to be responsible for human trafficking, organized retail theft, and residential burglaries.
“At the California Department of Justice, protecting public safety in our neighborhoods and communities is our top priority. Thanks to a collaborative effort with the Bakersfield Police Department, we have taken down a dangerous gang that has terrorized the Bakersfield community,” Becerra said. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring criminal street gangs to justice.”
Related Story: 50 Arrested, Guns Seized in Central California Gang Takedown
