Behind the Badge
SWAT teams from the Anaheim Police and Orange County Sheriff’s departments late Wednesday arrested four gang members for their suspected involvement in a gang-related shooting in the 800 block of East Balsam Avenue on March 9.
The SWAT teams served simultaneous search warrants and arrest warrants at three Anaheim residences in the 1200 block of North East Street, 600 block of South Philadelphia Street and 200 block of South Ohio Street.
A nearly week-long investigation by the Anaheim PD’s Gang Detail and Crime Task Force led to the identification of four suspects and three residences associated with those suspects.
All four have prior criminal histories including weapons violations and felonious assaults.
Based on the circumstances of the crime, the type of weapon used, and the past criminal histories, SWAT personnel were enlisted to serve the warrants.
APD booking photos
In the March 9 incident, the suspects fired approximately 20 rounds from an assault rifle, striking several residences with bullets. No individuals were shot.
Margarito Sandoval, 25, the suspected shooter, Erick Malacara, 31, Irvin Malacara, 27, and Giovanni Martinez, 21, were arrested for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and gang enhancements .
All four were booked at the Anaheim Detention Facility with bail set at $1 million.
