Officials said Bakersfield Police Chief Lyle Martin launched the inter-agency operation with the intention of getting more information on Kason Guyton's murder.
Bakersfield Police said one of the 25 people arrested during Tuesday's sweep is a "person of interest" in the Kason Guyton case.
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Guyton was shot and killed in February after the car he was in was shot at. His 7-year-old brother was also hit but suffered non-life threatening injuries.
The Bakersfield Police Department and several local, county, state and federal agencies served more than 30 search warrants throughout Bakersfield on Tuesday, resulting in 25 arrests.
The sweep on Dec. 12 was part of a larger operation called "Operation Blind Mice", which resulted in the arrest of more than 35 Bakersfield gang members and associates of the West Side Crips since the investigation began in March 2017.
Police said 15 felony arrests were made and several firearms were seized prior to the multi-agency operation on Tuesday and throughout the course of the investigation. More than four pounds of methamphetamine and over an ounce of crack cocaine were also seized, police said.
The ongoing investigation allowed officers to intervene and prevent several violent crimes, including planned shootings, residential burglaries and robberies.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bakersfield Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Kern County District Attorney's Office were all a part of the operation on Dec. 12.
Police said three suspects, all who are wanted for involvement in a street gang, are still on the loose. Tommie Thomas, 35, has a warrant for burglary and participation in a criminal street gang. Jarvis Thomas, 32, has a warrant for sales of a controlled substance, conspiracy and participation in a criminal street gang. Michael Holmes has a warrant for possession of an assault rifle, evading police, burglary and participation in a criminal street gang.
The state and federal law enforcement agencies executed 34 residential search warrants. The arrest and search warrant sweep also brought new leads in the Kason Guyton case, police said.
The alleged crimes that were presented in the state and federal cases included weapons violations, money laundering, unlawful possession of a firearm, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, methamphetamine sales, cocaine sales, opiate sales, attempted murder and murder.
Through the course of the operation, four arrest warrants were obtained for suspects believed to be responsible for the murder of Edwin Smith on Sept. 23. Police said Skylor Billings, Daniel Willis and Gary Pierson were arrested for murder. Gary Clayton was arrested for accessory to the murder.
Police said the following people were arrested on Tuesday and face criminal charges in state court:
LaShonda Bailey, 40, arrested for grand theft.
Mijah Burns, 19, arrested for receiving stolen property, accessory, and participation in a street gang.
Breyonna Cartwright, 27, arrested for conspiracy and participation in a street gang.
Paul Dean, 44, arrested for accessory and participation in a street gang.
Keshaunte Deloney, 18, arrested for burglary and participation in a street gang.
Rodney Gupton, 20, arrested for possession of an assault rifle, gang member in possession of a firearm and participation in a criminal street gang.
Latimore Hunter, 19, arrested for possession of an assault rifle, gang member in possession of a firearm, and participation in a criminal street gang.
Lavail Johnson, 46, arrested for possession of an assault rifle and participation in a street gang.
Ladareius Jones, 24, arrested for accessory, possession of stolen property and participation in a street gang.
Jeremy King, 25, arrested for accessory and participation in a criminal street gang.
Jonathan Knight, 27, arrested for accessory and participation in a criminal street gang.
Jack Sam, 27, arrested for conspiracy and participation in a criminal street gang.
Cornelius Shiver, 22, arrested for gang member in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property, burglary and participation in a criminal street gang.
Sara Sims, 74, arrested for an assault rifle and participation in a street gang.
Larry Thomas, 24, arrested for attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, accessory, possession of a firearm by a gang member and participation in a street gang.
Jevern Weldon, 23, arrested for receiving stolen property, accessory and participation in a street gang.
Daray Woodard, 20, arrested for burglary, receiving stolen property, accessory and participation in a street gang.
Four juveniles were arrested on charges including attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a gang member, participation in a street gang, destruction of evidence and receiving stolen property.
Seven other people were arrested for charges unrelated to the operation:
Deon Davis, Jamario Sanders, Derrick Charles, Michael Reyes, Sara Willis, Herman Deans, Labraya Collins.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call Bakersfield Police at (661) 327-7111.
