Gang crackdown leads to five arrests, illegal guns
Detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department TAGNET (Tulare Area Gang and Narcotic Enforcement Team) conducted gang suppression operations last week in the communities of Porterville, Orosi, Pixley, and Strathmore. Throughout the week, detectives conducted multiple traffic stops and were able to seize four illegally possessed firearms.
The following subjects were contacted and arrested by Detectives:
Antonio Sandoval, 32, from Porterville was arrested for possession of a loaded firearm in public.
Tyler Morris, 33 from Terra Bella was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a short barreled rifle and gang member in possession of a firearm.
Jonathan Ramirez, 18, and Jose Urbina, 36, both from Pixley, were both arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a loaded firearm and for being gang members in possession of a firearm.
Demetrio Hernandez, 28, from Orosi was arrested for being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm and for being a gang member in possession of a loaded firearm.
Among the firearms seized were a short-barreled rifle with a high-capacity magazine, a short-barreled shotgun, and two handguns, at least one of which appeared to have a high capacity magazine.
Anyone with information regarding gang or drug activity is encouraged to call the Tulare County gang hotline at 1-888-END-GANG (1-888-363-4264). Or information can be sent anonymously through our TIP now system by email at TCSO@ TIPNOW.COM. Or you can simply Call or Text at (559)725-4194.