July Fourth Felonies Increase

Despite an increased number of felony arrests, this year’s Independence Day seemed more peaceable than last year’s, which was marred by a fatal gang stabbing. The six felony arrests this year (excluding regular parole activity) numbered two more than last year’s and included two cases of battery against a spouse or co-habitant, possession of a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, and driving on a suspended license.

One of the battery arrests was of a 31-year-old woman who reportedly hit her victim with a phone and scratched his neck. When the police apprehended her, she claimed that her partner hit her in the head so hard that she “saw stars” before she hit and scratched him. However, while he had scratch marks on his neck, she showed no visible sign of injury.

The arrests for possession of a dangerous weapon and resisting arrest occurred on Chapala Street, where officers reported that they apprehended two men riding their bicycles on the sidewalk. One of them, aged 28, cooperated and admitted to carrying “a straight edge knife in my right pocket” when asked if he was in possession of any weapons. The other individual, aged 27, initially fled on foot only to be later apprehended and arrested for resisting arrest and violating terms of his probation.

Another man, aged 32, was arrested on suspicion of assault after allegedly attacking a man who had supposedly made insulting comments about his girlfriend in the Ledbetter Beach lot. The victim was found with head wounds from what appeared to be a blunt force weapon, and witnesses pointed the suspect as the attacker. The girlfriend, who was present and witnessed the event from ten feet away, reported that everything seemed fine before her boyfriend punched the victim. According to the police reports, the suspect has a 14-page criminal record that includes assault and resisting arrest. His girlfriend also reported that he was a member of the gang VCP (Varrio Central Poros).

The number of traffic and parking citations also increased this year from last with 16 more traffic and 23 more parking citations. There were nine more vehicles towed. The number of misdemeanor arrests, though, decreased from 17 to 12 between 2008 and 2009.