Arcadia city council will vote on an ordinance prohibiting loitering by members of street gangs. The ordinance defines a "criminal street gang" as three or more people with a primary activity to commit offenses, such as murder, assault, robbery, or drug-related crimes. There are eight active Asian gangs within the city.
A federal investigation of a San Gabriel Valley-based Asian crime syndicate led to the arrests of 18 suspected Red Door gang members in several San Gabriel Valley cities, including Arcadia. The effort was dubbed "Operation Paint it Black." Authorities seized seven guns, 12,500 ecstasy pills, 2,230 marijuana plants and a Lamborghini. The 18 were indicted on drug trafficking and international marriage fraud charges.
A joint raid by more than 200 deputies and officers, targeting parolees with connections to the Pasadena Denver Lanes Blood gang, resulted in 15 arrests on charges ranging from possession of narcotics to weapons. The 6:00 AM raid occurred simultaneously at 71 residences in Altadena, Pasadena, Los Angeles, Monrovia, Arcadia and Temple City.
Local gang violence is on the upswing. Racial hatred and territorial disputes fuel battles over unincorported county areas of Monrovia, Duarte and Arcadia.
The Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme, has a stronghold on illegal drug trafficking in the San Gabriel Valley. Fighting within the gang is causing violence, even as some key members are in prison.
A panel discussion chaired by Assembly member Carol Liu, D-Pasadena, addressing the issue of Asian gang activity, was held in Arcadia City Council Chambers on Wednesday, November 14. It was a fact finding hearing intending to develop legislative and community oriented solutions to Asian organized crime in California.
Police arrested eleven Asian-American high school students, nine of whom were Arcadia High School students, after a 2-month investigation of extortion and terrorist threats by suspected gang members against junior high school students.
Police from across Southern California, including Arcadia, are joining Monrovia Police and sheriffs in a task force to try to obliterate street gangs that are committing crimes. This joint task force comes after four people were killed recently in Monrovia. Police suspect Black and Latino gangs of the murders.
Police have arrested nine people who are believed to be members of a San Gabriel Valley Asian gang that has been under investigation in recent months for terrorizing local Asian youths. Four adults and five juveniles were taken into custody after police linked them with a February 15 kidnapping, attempted extortion and assault.
Two dozen rounds were fired into an Arcadia apartment complex in the 400 block of Second Avenue. No one were injured. The shooting is believed to be Asian gang related.