Midnight stop yields five gang arrests
An early morning, high-risk traffic stop netted five alleged northern gang members, Porterville Police Department officers said.
Police conducted a traffic stop at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday on the car for loud music. As the car came to a stop, a shot was fired from the car and struck a nearby building, police said.
Officers detained the driver and four passengers, who were subsequently identified as northern street gang members.
The suspects — Estelle Ruiz, 34, Sophie Aguilera, 39, Ray Perez, 27, Michael Castillo, 19, and Javier Rodriguez, 26, all of Porterville — were arrested and booked into Tulare County Main Jail on a number of charges, including reckless discharge of a firearm, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and conspiracy.
One of the suspects had prior arrest warrants and another was on parole.
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