Oakland police crackdown nabs dangerous gang members

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- In Oakland, police say some of the city's most dangerous gang members are off the streets after they conducted a series of raids early Thursday morning.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said residents should be able to have a better night's sleep, knowing these suspects are in custody. Some of them are a part of the same gang that is responsible for the murder of toddler Carlos Nava that happened several years ago.

Carlos' death is perhaps the most tragic, recent example of the violence between two East Oakland gangs that police targeted as part of "Operation Ceasefire."

"It focused specifically on two notorious and violent gangs operating in the city of Oakland, specifically the 65th Ave. and 69th Ave. gangs," Oakland Police Chief Sean Whent said.

In August 2011, 3-year-old Carlos was an innocent bystander, shot and killed at 64th and International as he rode in a toy car. Last summer, two members of the 65th Avenue Village gang were convicted in his murder.

Thursday morning, police served warrants all over the city and as far away as Stockton. They arrested 16 members of the rival gangs, two of them are juveniles. The violence between the two groups centers around East Oakland housing projects and neighborhoods between 65th and 69th avenues, dating back more than three decades.

"The individuals that were arrested today were not only guilty of gang violence, but also of terrorizing Oaklanders," Schaaf said.

Oakland police, working with the FBI and other local agencies, have also seized three dozen weapons.

"These are very important cases to, us as it is to the community and to everyone. And we have our best prosecutors who are in court, prosecuting them to make sure that when we present the evidence, that there is sufficient evidence and it's presented in a way that will result in their conviction," Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said.

Before making the arrests, the city and police reached out to individuals linked to both gangs offering them a variety of social services, as long as they chose not to engage in violence. Most of those contacted since 2012 accepted that offer and have not been re-arrested for violent or gun-related offenses.