On Monday, the Bakersfield Police Department announced the arrest of multiple people as part of their attempt to break the cycle of gang violence in the city. The arrests took place over a three-day period this weekend.
Between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday, officers conducted several vehicle code enforcement stops resulting in the arrests of four people. Twenty-seven-year-old James Webb was arrested in the 3600 block of Madison Avenue. He was charged with gang participation, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, and other associated charges.
In the 3200 block of Lotus Lane, officers arrested 28-year-old Dion Evans after a search of his vehicle revealed a loaded handgun. He was arrested for gang participation, carrying a concealed firearm, driving with a suspended license, and other associated charges.
At 10 p.m. in the 300 block of Northrup Street, when police attempted to stop 28-year-old Kazan Villegas and 29-year-old Phillip Lopez, officers saw a handgun being thrown from the vehicle. Both men were arrested for gang participation, possession of an unregistered firearm, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and other associated charges. Villegas also faces charges of being a felon in possession of a weapon.
On Saturday afternoon, officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the 400 block of West Columbus Street. After a short pursuit, 24-year-old Barius Burton attempted to flee the scene on foot, discarding a gun as he did. He was eventually arrested for several outstanding felony arrest warrants, gang participation, and felon in possession of a firearm. The driver, 29-year-old Deandre Smith was arrested for vehicle code violations, gang participation, conspiracy, and felon in possession of a firearm.
Also on Saturday, officers conducted a probation check at 349 Union Avenue, where 19-year-old Darren Williams attempted to conceal a gun by sitting on it. He was arrested for gang participation, possession of an unregistered firearm, and other associated weapons violations.
Then on Sunday at around 7 p.m., officers attempted to stop a car in the 1100 block of East Planz Road. The driver, 24-year-old Abel Villatoro failed to stop and led officers on a short pursuit, before attempting to flee on foot. A search of his car revealed a loaded gun and meth. He was arrested for gang participation, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed, an outstanding felony arrest warrant, and associated weapon and narcotics charges.
At about 9:15 p.m. on Sunday, officers tried to stop a vehicle fleeing the scene of a Shotspotter activation in the 500 block of T Street. During the chase, a handgun was thrown from the car. After the car struck a rock in the median, the driver, 25-year-old Chanelle Akines fled on foot before being arrested. A 16-year-old female passenger was also arrested. The face charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, gang participation, conspiracy, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
Early Sunday morning at around 2 a.m., 25-year-old Augustine James was arrested for firing a handgun into the air in the 500 block of Butte Street. He was arrested for negligent discharge of a firearm and possession of a concealed firearm.
If you have any information in connection to any of these cases, you are asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.
