Felonies by O.C. Gangs Up Dramatically in ’91 : Crime: D.A.’s report urges concerted effort against problem, which continues to grow ‘despite our efforts.’

Gang members charged with dangerous felonies in Orange County increased dramatically in 1991, as did a public awareness of the “seriousness and magnitude of the problem,” according to an annual report released Tuesday by the district attorney’s office.

“Despite our efforts,” the report concludes, “the gang problem continues to grow. . . . This is a critical time in the growth of gangs in Orange County, and it is only through concerted action that the tide will ultimately be turned.”

The number of gang members charged with murder jumped 65%, from 26 in 1990 to 43 in 1991, according to the report. The total number of gang cases prosecuted by the Orange County Gang Unit increased 33%. But Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi cautioned that the numbers reflected both intensified law enforcement and an increase in gang activity itself.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Douglas H. Woodsmall, head of the gang unit and author of the report, said the county is at a crossroads.

“Each year we’ve seen gang violence increase and the number of cases coming through the unit increases,” he said. “There’ll come a point when, if we don’t stop what’s happening, it will begin to get out of control. We’re not there yet, but it’s something to be concerned about. You only have to look to the north, to Los Angeles, to see what happens when gangs expand that way.”

Authorities now estimate the number of gangs in Los Angeles County at about 1,000, with a total membership of about 100,000.

The report issued Tuesday followed a report to the Anaheim City Council earlier this month that local street gangs are making inroads into the city’s illicit drug trade. Authorities said they were concerned that gang turf wars could explode into more violent wars for profit.

“We’ve got our finger in the dike,” said Sgt. Craig Hunter, head of the city’s gang unit.

Even in Placentia, with only 2% of the county’s population, a recent Anti-Gang and Drug Advisory Committee report said there were at least 300 recognized gang members.

The county report found that Latino gangs continue to predominate, accounting for 1,905 court cases in 1991, more than half the county’s total.

But the report also noted that Asian gang members more than doubled to 303. The report said it is not clear whether the increase in Asian gang activity “represents an actual increase in crime, an increase in reporting of crime or both.”

Crimes by white “skinhead” gang members rose from 59 in 1990 to 98, the report said, but still represent only a fraction of the county’s criminal gang activity.

“Since many of these crimes are hate crimes committed by skinhead factions, it is important to closely monitor such gang activity and vigorously prosecute offenders,” the report said.

Black gangs “still have a minimal presence in Orange County,” according to the report, with only 19 cases filed in 1991.

The Orange County Gang Unit, set up four years ago by the Board of Supervisors with six attorneys and two investigators, now has eight attorneys and five investigators.

Last year, the gang unit reported 15 guilty verdicts in 17 jury trials and 90 guilty verdicts in 95 Juvenile Court cases.

“We are pleased at the progress we are making” in combatting the gang problem, Capizzi said, noting that gang activity in Orange County is nowhere near that of Los Angeles.

The immediate problem, Capizzi said, is for a more aggressive effort “to weed out those gang members who are creating the problems.”

Three cases handled by the gang unit were cited in the report:

* The Jan. 24, 1991, shootout between gang members at Alona Park in north Santa Ana that left 17-year-old Robert Vasquez dead. Of the 12 gang members arrested, seven have been tried and convicted of murder and one of conspiracy. Three defendants are awaiting trial, and a warrant has been issued for the remaining defendant.

* The Aug. 4, 1991, shooting of 49-year-old Janet Bicknell as she was driving past Bowling Green Park in Westminster. Four people have been charged with murder.

* The July 7, 1991, attack on a Chinese-American student in Fullerton by a gang of 10 to 15 skinheads. Nine defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted of a variety of charges.

In addition, the report singled out for notice the establishment of Westminster’s Gang Task Force, which includes a deputy district attorney, a probation officer and two gang detectives, one Asian and one Latino. The unit, which operates in cooperation with the county’s gang unit, began operations on Jan. 1, 1992.

“We are confident,” the report states, “that the (Westminster) task force will achieve excellent results and hopeful that it will be copied in other Orange County cities.”

Capizzi praised Westminster for having “put its money where its mouth is” on the gang issue.

In Santa Ana, Lt. Hugh F. Mooney, head of the Police Department section that includes the gang unit, said, “‘Right now, we’re kind of holding our own.” In 1991, Mooney said, gang cases increased 31% over 1990.

Santa Ana’s 13-member gang unit is larger than it has ever been, Mooney said.

“We’re trying a number of new strategies to combat the gang problem,” he said, but, as in other jurisdictions, “limited jail space is hindering us a bit. The morale of our troops is good. There’s just a large problem to deal with.”

In La Habra on Tuesday night, community leaders discussed the city’s gang problem at a forum held at La Habra City School District headquarters. According to police, La Habra, with 56,000 residents, has 300 identified gang members.

Sgt. Mike Moore of the La Habra Police Department said: “I’m not saying we don’t have a gang problem. We do. But it’s not to the severity of other cities.”

Joan Mallard, the school district’s anti-drug coordinator, said gangs in the city are mainly interested in staking out territory.

“Most of our gangs in La Habra are turf gangs,” she said. “Hopefully we don’t go into Stage 2 with drugs.”

Gang Case File

The total number of cases filed by the district attorney’s gang unit increased 33% between 1990 and 1991. A percentage breakdown of gang cases in 1991, by race and ethnicity: Latino: 62% Asian: 10% Multi-ethnic: 19% Out-of-county: 5% White: 3% Source: Orange County district attorney’s office