COUNTYWIDE : 11 Arrested in Gang Clashes at Festival

Eleven people involved in gang-related confrontations were arrested during Fillmore’s four-day May Festival, which attracted about 30,000 people over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

Three Santa Paula teen-agers and two Fillmore teen-agers were arrested on suspicion of fighting in public during a gang clash late Friday evening, authorities said.

Another six people were arrested Saturday about 10 p.m. during a second gang confrontation, Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Don Holladay said. Deputies intercepted several Santa Paula gang members as they approached the carnival and directed them to leave, Holladay said. However, when Fillmore gang members saw the Santa Paula gang members, they threw rocks at the youths and at deputies, Holladay said.

Six of the Fillmore gang members were arrested on suspicion of a variety of crimes, including possession of a deadly weapon and fighting in public, Holladay said. Three were taken to Ventura County Juvenile Hall, one was booked into the Ventura County Jail and two were cited and released, Holladay said.

The two-day California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard, which drew about 80,000 people, went smoothly with only one person arrested, police said. The person was arrested Sunday afternoon on suspicion of disturbing the peace. Police said they had no further details.