6 Arrested in Crackdown on Taggers

Raids at 10 Oxnard homes early Wednesday ended with six arrests and the seizure of several semiautomatic weapons, drug paraphernalia and 626 cans of spray paint that authorities believe was used by gangs to vandalize property across the county.

Authorities said the four men and two boys arrested in the dawn sweeps were members of two “tagging gangs” that have been warring in recent months. The violence between the gangs escalated in December when a tagger was shot in the head by a rival, authorities said.

“They are becoming more and more violent among each other,” said Oxnard Police Det. Rick Anderson, who led the investigation.

Detectives acknowledged the arrests and paint seizure would do little to quell the problem -- the city spends $500,000 annually on graffiti abatement -- but they believed the case would catch the attention of some of the city’s estimated 200 tagging gangs. Members of these gangs commit other crimes but their focus is vandalizing property, police said.

“It’s important what Det. Anderson has done because taggers will know we are actually looking at this and not letting it go by the wayside,” Det. Brian Bishop said at an afternoon news conference that included Oxnard Police Chief Art Lopez.

The penalties for a vandalism conviction can include jail time, depending on the amount of damage, but offenders often receive probation -- a practice that has frustrated police and hampered their efforts to eradicate the problem.

But that doesn’t keep police from cracking down, officials said.

During the news conference, police displayed items confiscated in the raids, including boxes of spray paint, six semiautomatic handguns, an assault rifle, a stun gun, ammunition and other evidence.

Oxnard detectives, with assistance from Ventura and Port Hueneme police and Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, executed search warrants at homes across the city, including houses on Blanca, Trinity and Tulare places and Olive and Phoenix streets.

Although the weapons and other evidence were seized at various locations, the spray paint was found in the garage of one suspect’s home, authorities said.

Those arrested Wednesday were identified as Hugo Corona, 25, John Ramirez, 21, and George Maeyama and Aldrian Higgs, both 20. The juveniles are 16 and 17. All were booked on suspicion of various vandalism, drug and weapons charges.

The triggerman in the December shooting remains at large, authorities said