Sweep spurs over 40 arrests

Operation, with help from many nearby agencies, targeted several SB locations

San Bernardino police arrested more than 40 people and recovered several firearms in a gang sweep operation at multiple locations throughout the city Friday.

More than 80 officers from neighboring agencies including Rialto, Redlands, Fontana, Colton, Montclair, and Upland police departments and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Highland Station assisted with the San Bernardino Movement Against Street Hoodlums operation in response to increasing criminal gang activity in the city, according to San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman.

“Recently, a beautiful, innocent, 8-year-old girl was shot in the face by gang members as she played in front of her home,” Goodman said in a statement.

“I refuse to allow gang members or other violent criminals to operate with impunity in San Bernardino.”

Thirty felony arrests and 12 misdemeanor arrests were made during the sweep, police said. Officers recovered 16 firearms, 3 ounces of methamphetamine, 1 ounce of cocaine and a large amount of PCP.

Two stolen vehicles also were recovered.

Around 9:40 p.m., one of the partnering agencies became involved in a vehicle pursuit. Deputies from the Highland Station had positioned themselves to assist but were advised that the direction of the pursuit had changed.

When the deputies made a U-turn near the intersection of Highland Avenue and State Street, a motorcyclist collided with the patrol unit, according to Mara Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The motorcyclist was taken to a hospital for complaints of pain. The deputies were uninjured, Rodriguez said.

Whether any citation was issued was not immediately known.

Police said additional crime suppression sweeps will be planned in the future.