A gang sweep in Planada on Thursday night resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals.
In the wake of increased gang activity and a recent drive-by shooting in Planada, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department STAR team, along with the state parole and county probation officers conducted a zero tolerance sweep of the area.
Teams hit several different houses along with extra units patrolling the area and arrested 12 individuals during the operation. The charges ranged from public intoxication to parole violations, narcotics and weapons charges. The focus was on gang activity and of the 12 arrested, five were charged with participating in a criminal street gang and two were sex registrants, sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie said.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Department said they are going to take a very aggressive, proactive stance against gang activity in the Planada area, especially with the recent methamphetamine lab dumps that have been occurring in that area as well, MacKenzie said. The sheriff’s department encourages anybody who has information on gang activity or methamphetamine lab operations to contact the department at 385-7444.