2 FELONS HELD IN FREEWAY ATTACKS : CHP OFFICIALS SAY MORE ARRESTS DUE.Byline: Eric Wahlgren, Jaxon Van Derbeken and Steve Gorman Steve Gorman (born 17 August, 1965, Muskegon, Michigan) is a musician best known as the drummer of the American hard rock band The Black Crowes. He also spent some time as drummer for British rock band Stereophonics. Daily News Staff Writers Two convicted felons were in custody Thursday on suspicion of felony vandalism in the recent rash of freeway window-shatterings - one of several crews of taggers suspected in the case, authorities said. California Highway Patrol highway patrol n. A state law enforcement organization whose police officers patrol the public highways. officials announced the first break in the case with the arrests of Hugo Hernandez, 22, and Jose Soto, 21, and the seizure of two BB guns and ammunition. But they cautioned that the investigation into the monthlong spate of 240 attacks is far from complete, noting that there are at least three or four other ongoing probes with more arrests expected. ``These are undoubtedly not the only individuals who are responsible for the recent rash of vandalism incidents,'' said Ed Gomez, chief of CHP's Southern Division. He said that 400 tips have poured in from a state hotline while 200 extra cruisers have been put on patrol. CHP CHP Chapter CHP Combined Heat and Power CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Turkish: Republican People's Party) CHP Chemical Hygiene Plan (OSHA) CHP Community Health Plan officers said three window-smashings had been reported throughout the day, including one at 7:10 p.m. on the Ventura Freeway The Ventura Freeway is a freeway in southern California running from Ventura to Pasadena. It is the principal east-west route through Ventura County and in the southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. west of Woodman Avenue. An anonymous tip led to the arrests of the men, both suspected of being gang members, who were stopped late Wednesday inside a 1978 yellow Dodge van Dodge Van may refer to:
Officers found BBs inside the ``ugly yellow van,'' which witnesses had described as a vehicle that might be tied to as many as five freeway attacks, said Capt. Ray Blackwell. A ``fistful fist·ful n. pl. fist·fuls The amount that a fist can hold. Noun 1. fistful - the quantity that can be held in the hand handful containerful - the quantity that a container will hold of marbles'' also was found, he said. At a news conference Thursday, CHP officers displayed two BB guns that were found inside the suspects' home in the 1300 block of West 30th Street in South Los Angeles South Los Angeles is the official name for a large geographic and cultural area lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central Los Angeles, and is still sometimes called South Central. , where they also confiscated con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. a 9 mm handgun, an AK-47 and a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun. Both men were being held on $60,000 bail. Each was arrested on suspicion of being a felon An individual who commits a crime of a serious nature, such as Burglary or murder. A person who commits a felony. felon n. a person who has been convicted of a felony, which is a crime punishable by death or a term in state or federal prison. in possession of a firearm and throwing a projectile projectile something thrown forward. projectile syringe see blow dart. projectile vomiting forceful vomiting, usually without preceding retching, in which the vomitus is thrown well forward. at a moving vehicle. They are expected to be charged today. Jose Soto's father, Marcos Soto, said Thursday that his son denied involvement in the attacks. ``What can I say? I asked him if he is one of those guys, and he said no,'' said Soto, a chef at the Magic Castle restaurant and magic club in Hollywood. He said his son recently had started to borrow the family van, saying he was going to visit friends. ``He's been taking it out almost every night, lately,'' the elder Soto said. Soto said his son sometimes helps out at the restaurant as a dishwasher when banquets are scheduled, but otherwise is unemployed. Jose spends much of his time taking care of his 6-year-old niece, Marcos Soto said. Soto said he knew Jose had owned a BB gun - but said he recently confiscated the weapon. ``I told him that if he bought another one, I would call the police,'' Soto said. Soto said his son acknowledged in the past that he had belonged to a gang, but that three years ago he said he had quit. Investigators believe the recent freeway attacks may be tied to the activities of tagger tag·ger n. 1. One that tags, especially the pursuer in the game of tag. 2. taggers Very thin sheet iron, usually plated with tin. Noun 1. vandalism crews. Blackwell noted that some items found during the investigation of the two men suggests they could be taggers. ``We also seized a large indelible marking pen, which is apparently very commonly used by taggers,'' Blackwell said. ``There's pretty good evidence to indicate that this has become another way of destructive expression by taggers,'' Blackwell said. ``There's a good reason to believe that a number of the people involved in the tagging elements have crossed over into this type of activity.'' Both Hernandez and Soto, who is also known as Jose Cruz Jose Luis Cruz (Cheo) can refer to different people:
Hernandez pleaded guilty to unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle in 1994 and was sentenced to three years' probation, one year in county jail and ordered to pay $200 in restitution. Soto was sentenced under the name Cruz in 1993 to three years' probation and 180 days in county jail after pleading guilty to a felony charge of receiving stolen property. He had originally been charged with grand theft auto and receiving stolen property in the theft of a 1977 Toyota, but the first charge was dismissed in the plea agreement. Superior Court Judge John Reid John Reid may refer to:
During his sentencing hearing, Reid warned that any probation violation would be dealt with harshly. ``You won't be back before me, but if you come back on another probation violation, forget about Warm Springs (the drug rehab center), forget about county jail,'' Reid said. ``You'll do straight time. State prison time. Understood?'' ``Yes,'' the teen-ager answered, according to a transcript of the hearing. Neighbors and a tenant of the Soto family said Jose Soto had a BB gun and often had groups of friends over to the home. ``I'm not surprised. He's young and he has a lot friends that come through. You never know what he's doing,'' said Josette Connor, 40, who lives next door. Tomas Hernandez, 40, who rents a room from the Soto family, said he knew Jose Soto had a BB gun. ``He would shoot at metal cans and other little things in the backyard,'' Hernandez said. When asked whether Soto was the type of person who would commit such a crime, Hernandez shrugged. ``He's a typical kid,'' Hernandez said. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, map PHOTO (1) Photo shows marbles that were found insid e the suspects' van. (2) CHP Cmdr. Ed Gomez holds a BB rifle that was found in a house raid. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Map: Freeway windshield attacks |
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