Pasadena police and law enforcement partners from other agencies arrested eight alleged street gang members early Thursday morning during the service of search warrants that resulted in the seizure of firearms.
The lead agency in the raids, which were conducted around 3 a.m., was the Pasadena Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, with the assistance of tactical teams from the Arcadia Police Department, Azusa Police Department, Baldwin Park Police Department, Burbank Police Department, El Monte Police Department, Irwindale Police Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Upland Police Department, and the United States Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, according to Lisa Derderian of the city of Pasadena.
Pasadena police described the raids as a “coordinated, multi-jurisdictional warrant operation targeting individuals associated with a particular street gang.
“The operation was part of an ongoing investigation into gun trafficking activity associated with the gang,” police said. “The operation involved the simultaneous service of search warrants at 10 locations across multiple jurisdictions. As a result of the operation, officers seized seven handguns and one AK-style rifle.”
Eight individuals were arrested in connection with the investigation.
Pasadena Chief of Police Gene Harris said the complex operation represents the department’s “continued commitment to disrupting gun trafficking networks and the violent criminal activity they support.”
Anyone with information was urged to call the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or lacrimestoppers.org.