OXNARD : 5 Are Arrested in Anti-Gang Sweep

For the second time in three months, Oxnard police officers conducted an early-morning citywide sweep of gang members’ homes, arresting five juveniles, including one who allegedly attacked a district attorney’s investigator.

Four teams of law enforcement officials--including Oxnard and Port Hueneme police officers, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, officials from the district attorney’s office, and probation and parole officers--began conducting the sweeps at 7 a.m. in search of parole and probation offenders.

During the 3 1/2-hour sweep Wednesday, officers went to the homes of 17 parolees and 22 probationers, Oxnard Police Sgt. Charles Hookstra said.

“We didn’t get everyone,” he said. “We do plan to go back and get those we missed.”

The five juveniles arrested, all between the ages of 15 and 17, were taken into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor drug violations, Hookstra said. Four were placed in custody on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia, he said. Three were released by Wednesday afternoon.

The fifth youth gave officers a brief struggle before being taken away.

The youth, 17, grabbed for the throat of district attorney investigator Glen Kitzmann and then kicked at and tried to bite other officers who tried to subdue him, Hookstra said.

The youth was being held Wednesday in Juvenile Hall on suspicion of possession of cocaine, resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer.

The assault occurred at the second house visited by one of the teams, Oxnard Police Officer Lee Wilcox said.

No injuries were reported in the sweep, he said.

A gang sweep in September resulted in the arrest of eight juveniles and one adult on suspicion of violating terms of probation. Weapons, including knives, guns and assault rifles, were recovered, police said.

No weapons were recovered Wednesday, police said.