Police: Wave of violence might be gangs Police: Wave of violence might be gangs (April 22, 2005)

Citywide melee mars weekend

By Allison Gerard

Police believe the four attacks that occurred throughout the city last weekend may all be gang-related.

Police made arrests in one of the incidents, but three others are still under investigation.

"At this point, based on the evidence that we have, it appears that they were all gang-related," said police spokesperson Jim Bennett. Bennett said police have noticed an increase in gang activity in the last few months.

The most violent attack of the weekend came at the end. Two men leaving the downtown train station reported that three people yelling gang-related comments chased after them in a car. One victim was struck with a baseball bat and stabbed several times, and the other suffered punches and knife wounds on his arms. Both victims were treated at the hospital and released. The three suspects were described as Hispanic males between the ages of 17 and 23. The car they were driving was described as a 1990s red Dodge 4-door.

The series of attacks began Friday night and intensified as the weekend progressed. The first attack took place around 6 p.m., on the 400 block of Toft Street. A man was getting out of his car to visit friends when a green or teal Toyota 4-door pulled up beside him. The driver, who was described as a Hispanic male between the ages of 16 and 19 with black hair and thin-build, struck the victim with a steel pipe before fleeing.

The following day at Cuesta Park, a group of nine or 10 people attacked two men playing handball. The suspects, described as Hispanic males between the ages of 18 and 30, drove away in a black or blue Honda 4-door.

Police were able to make arrests in the Saturday night attack at the SFV Lodge at 361 Villa St., holding three adults and two juveniles on charges of battery. The suspects allegedly attacked two victims who had been dropped off in front of the lodge to attend a party. The suspects fled the scene, but the police were able to locate them later.

Anyone with information is being asked to call the Mountain View police department at 903-6395.
E-mail Allison Gerard at agerard@mv-voice.com

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