Officials cite some progress against illegal syndicates
Area policeman says more work
is needed

By: Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Saturday, December 27, 2008 11:21 PM PST

Ontario—Progress in the ongoing battle against area illegal syndicates is steady, but more work remains according to a top Ontario Police Department official.

“By no means is it (the gang problem) taken care of,” OPD Capt. Mark Alexander said.

Alexander cited the recent arrest of six individuals who broke into an apartment and attacked an Ontario man last Sunday as a high point in the area gang interdiction effort.

Police arrested Alejandro Sierra, 19, Weiser, Alfredo Diaz, 19, Ontario, Rogue Martinez, 22, Caldwell, Adan Gonzalez, 20, Ontario, David Rodriguez, 39, California, and Jesus Solorio, 19, Ontario in connection to the break in incident.

Alexander said a piece of wood and a knife were used in the attack, which injured a 19-year-old Ontario man. Alexander said he did not believe any other weapons were found at the scene. Another 26-year-old involved in the incident was taken to Holy Rosary Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, Alexander said.

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Sierra was arraigned Monday in Malheur County Circuit Court on two counts of assault in the second degree, two counts of attempted assault in the second degree, kidnapping in the second degree, burglary in the first degree and attempted burglary in the second degree. Diaz, 19, Ontario, was arraigned Monday for two counts of assault in the second degree, two counts of attempted assault in the second degree, kidnapping in the second degree, burglary in the first degree, and conspiracy to commit burglary in the first degree.

Martinez, Gonzalez, Rodriguez, and Solorio were all arraigned on two charges of assault in the second degree, two counts of attempted assault in the second degree, kidnapping in the second degree, burglary in the first degree and conspiracy to commit burglary in the first degree.

“We’ll see how these cases pan out,” Alexander said.

In other public safety news:

The Ontario Police Department arrested a Fruitland man for driving under the influence after he almost crashed into a semi on Idaho Avenue near I-84 at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Efrain Gonzalez, 32, was driving a 2003 GMC Yukon and ended up going off the roadway as he served to avoid to semi.

Officers followed Gonzalez into the K-mart parking lot, situated at 1648 E. Idaho Ave., where he was arrested and then taken to jail for driving with a suspended license, which was a misdemeanor, felony driving under the influence because of prior conviction, refusing to take a breath test and a misdemeanor warrant out of Malheur County for failure to appear on a DUI.

Officers also arrested a Payette woman with a felony warrant out of Payette County at the Colonial Inn, situated at 1395 Tapadarea Ave., at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Anita Smith, 44, Payette was working at the inn when officers came to arrest her for aiding and abetting for burglary and grand theft.

When the officer first made contact with her, Alexander said she initially refused to reveal her identity and locked herself into the motel room.

Officers then entered the motel room and discovered she had locked herself into the bathroom. Alexander said she was physically taken into custody and charged with resisting arrest.