Nearly 200 police officers serve warrants in response to gangs’ shootout

A task force of 180 officers swept through Fresno early Wednesday, targeting gang members involved in a July shootout between rival crews in central Fresno, Chief Jerry Dyer reported.

Four gang members were taken into custody, and 11 are on the run. Dyer said the operation, which involved SWAT teams from Fresno and Clovis as well as the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, served 15 warrants in the operation, which began about 6 a.m.

Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as probation officers also took part. Dyer said the large number of heavily armed tactical officers is necessary in such operations because Fresno gangs are armed with assault weapons and other firearms.

He noted that so far this year, there have been 55 murders in the city, 29 gang-related, and 507 shootings. That compares to just 39 murders in 2016.

The gun battle that prompted the operation occurred after members of the Northside Pleasant Street Gang crossed paths with the Tiny Rascals Gang at the Primo Market near Shields and Hughes avenues on July 23. Although multiple rounds were fired by both sides, no one was struck, said Dyer. Detective Joshua Knapp was able to identify gang members Lawrence Chiles, 21, and Ray Perales, 27, by studying videos of the shootout. Officers seized three assault weapons, 1,000 rounds of ammunition and body armor when they arrested Perales at a home in the 1200 block of East Dakota Avenue. Perales’ girlfriend was also taken into custody on child endangerment charges.

Dyer said no one was injured in the operation. There was a foot chase in the 1200 block of North Abby Street before one suspect was captured.

This story was originally published December 20, 2017 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Nearly 200 police officers serve warrants in response to gangs’ shootout."