Posted on 07/19/2005 8:54:07 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
BURBANK, Calif. -- About 600 police officers raided homes from the San Fernando Valley to Palmdale overnight, in Operation Swift Intruder, a broad operation targeting violent gang members suspected in the shooting deaths of two officers.
The raid on members of the Vineland Boyz follows a similar, larger raid against the gang last month.
LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said officers were serving search warrants at more than 20 locations and had made at least 14 arrests by 6 a.m. Vernon said that two other suspects were already in custody, bringing the number of alleged gang members in custody to 16.
A Vineland Boyz' member allegedly was responsible for fatally shooting LAPD Officer James Beyea of the North Hollywood Station during a 1988 burglary. On Nov. 15, 2003, rookie Burbank police Officer Matthew Pavelka was killed in a shootout with suspected members of the gang when he and his partner arrived to provide backup to other officers in the 2900 block of North San Fernando Bnulevard.
"It's (Pavelka's) death that led to this task force being put together, on the promise that this gang would be put out of business," Los Angeles police Lt. Paul Vernon said.
Last week, a Burbank city councilwoman was arrested when police linked her to the gang.
The multi-agency task force behind the operation includes officers from Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena police, as well as members of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, U.S. Marshal's Service and the Internal Revenue Service, according to NBC4's Robert Kovacik.
Kovacik said police believe they "cut off the head of the Vineland Boyz gang" when they arrested 36 suspects in last month's sweep, which was dubbed Operation Silent Night.
Stacey Murphy and her Vineland Boyz Ping
Now, if only we can convince the police that illegal immigrants are all members of a gang (and that one of them killed a Denver police officer) we might make some progress here.
I'll take it one step further. I'd like to see police treat these gangs as the terrorists they are. These thugs create as much terror for our citizens as the islamists crawling our streets.
If it looks, acts, talks, and thinks like a terrorist. Treat it like a terrorist.
'Cuff 'em 'n stuff 'em. And their little councilwoman too!
600 officers is starting to sound like a military operation in Iraq, no tanks though.
War on Terrorists at the local level for sure!
I watched the Channel 2 news report on this raid....they said Stacey Murphy's handgun was found in a Vineland Boyz residence.
I know, This is absolutely the best thing ever.
The multi-agency task force conducting the operation was comprised of personnel from the Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena police departments; the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; the U.S. Marshal's Service; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Internal Revenue Service.
Tuesday's raids were conducted pursuant to a federal narcotics-conspiracy indictment that is part of the 19-month investigation designed to dismantle the gang, according to the LAPD.
Also seized overnight were $43,000 in cash, 18 cars, two guns, and a quantity of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine.
The 19-month investigation has netted 326 arrests to date.
The following 17 people arrested overnight are listed in the federal indictment, and face narcotics-conspiracy charges:
Shane Woodland, 28, of Porter Ranch
Patricia Venegas, 26, of Porter Ranch
Roberto Acosta, 29, of Canoga Park
Donald Loya, 45, of Saugus
Eddie Venegas, 21, of Reseda
Julie Venegas, 19, of Reseda
Carlos Rivas, 32, of Van Nuys
Victor Mendez, 32, of Reseda
Juan Soto, 22, of Reseda
Ursula Jimenez, 19, of Northridge
Robert Burns, 34, of Reseda
Jose Cardoza, 28, of Van Nuys
Gerardo Perez, 29, of Palmdale
Carlos Rivas, 32, of North Hollywood
Billy Mora, 29, of Northridge
Brian Ekelund, 34, of Winnetka
Evaristo Perez, 32, of Northridge
The following five people were arrested overnight on other warrants:
Rogelio Vazquez, 26, of Canoga Park
Ismael Menez, 29, of Reseda
Michael Barney, 23, of Canoga Park
Arturo Sanchez, 31, of Canoga Park
Gilberto Jose Sanchez Lopez, 21, of Mission Hills
Who is Stacey Murphy?
Not business as usual
Re "Double life stuns Murphy's friends" (July 16):
After reading about the arrest of Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy, it was a shock to hear of some of the allegations with which she has been charged.
Perhaps even more shocking was the quote by Burbank City Manager Mary Alvord that it would be "business as usual" for the city of Burbank.
As a resident of Burbank for over 47 years, I feel that Murphy should be excluded from the city's business until she is either cleared or convicted. I feel her integrity has been compromised.
Jim Bogle
Burbank
I agree with that. Not only that, she should have to be drug tested just for good measure.
LOL! It's not like her gun was "found" in VB territory, it's more like Stacey was VB herself.
I wonder how many of those arrested are illegal aliens and how many are La Raza Scum?
I heard half the gang bangers in the indictment came out of Burrough HS 10 years ago....
The Leader called about my letter to the editor, we will see if it is printed. I can't believe how many people in Burbank think "it was her dirtbag boyfriend" or "she was caught up in it all"
I want to know how she was able to vote on all those airport expansion projects while she was working for a cab company that did major business at the airport. Isn't that a major conflict of interest? I think the whole thing stinks to high heaven.
She is an adult with an individual personality all her own.
And her own home.
She put those drugs in her room and kept guns,ammo in the garage.
She is not that far away from me. Scares me. Makes me think twice about letting my kids go to peoples homes to play.
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