Search warrants bring heavy police presence during state DOJ operation

UPDATE 2/13/15: On Thursday, a six month long California Department of Justice investigation leads to a big sweep in Salinas. Investigators said 12 people were arrested and meth, heroin, marijuana were seized.

It was all part of an operation including agencies across the Central Coast. CA DOJ investigators said they found Chinatown to be a hot bed for drug and gang activity.

The investigation focused on suspected members and associates of the Norteo street gang. CA DOJ said all 12 people arrested were involved in many violent crimes including homicide, drug trafficking, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and prostitution.

If you didn’t know any better, you would have thought Salinas had turned into an army base.

“It’s very scary,” Salinas resident Angelo Montez said.

Investigators said they served seven search warrants in five different locations. With drug and gang activity at the center of the six month long investigation, by mid-morning Thursday, investigators moved in on the Chinatown area.

“I really don’t like it but there’s nothing I can do about it,” Chinatown resident Alvin Collins said.

Collins said he’s lived here since the late 60s.

“They put me on the wall and pat me down and everything,” Collins said.

Parking lots were sniffed out and a Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School was temporarily placed lockdown. Some people were arrested for what agents said were parole and probation violations.

Authorities said while they’re serving the search warrants, they are also checking the entire area, inside cars and underneath cars. A collaboration of the CA DOJ, FBI, Marina Police, Salinas Police, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and CHP out in full force.

“They come down here picking on the homeless, people that don’t have nothing. No money, no place to live,” Collins said.

While it didn’t sit well with some, others viewed the special operation as a reassuring sign.

“I feel protected, yeah,” Montez said.

The CA DOJ said Hugo Torres, Sheranda Mooring, Armando Atlas, Juan Garcia, Ben Mboso, Marcus Crooms, Arturo Jernandez, Gregory Hickson, Francisco Sanchez, Kevin Lattimore, Peter Vasquez and Lisa Guitterez were arrested during Thursday’s sweep and face a total 23 charges.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: The California Department of Justice said its working on serving seven search warrants in five locations around Salinas.

Heavy police presence is seen around the city with multiple agencies assisting from Salinas PD, Marina PD, CHP, FBI, DOJ’s Monterey County Specialized Team Intervention Narcotics and Gangs, CDCR and Monterey County Probation.

DOJ operation managers say they’re focusing on gang and drug activity in the Chinatown area. But other parts of the city are seeing activity as well.

UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: Salinas police said a lockdown at Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School has been lifted because of police activity in the area.

PREVIOUS STORY: School officials at Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School say the school went on lockdown at 11:30 a.m. because of a police operation in the area.

Salinas police say they are working on a search warrant in the nearby neighborhood.

NewsChannel 5 will continue to update information as it becomes available.