Extra
Three Arrests in South Berkeley-North Oakland Gang War
An investigation into two rival gangs from North Oakland and South Berkeley led to the arrests today of several suspects, including one who was shot by a police officer, authorities said.
Oakland and Berkeley police have been investigating the feud between the two gangs since 2001. Oakland police said the gangs, mostly consisting of males between the ages of 16 and 30, may be behind a recent escalation of shootings in Oakland and Berkeley.
Over the past two weeks, Oakland police have conducted several hours of surveillance and dozens of interviews, which led to the issuing of seven search warrants and several arrest warrants that targeted the most violent gang members, according to police.
This morning, officers served high-risk warrants in a number of East Bay cities and made at least three arrests. Additionally, police seized 12 firearms and some narcotics. Hercules, Berkeley, Richmond, and Hayward police assisted in today’s operation, as did the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives.
Coleon Carroll, 19, was arrested on an outstanding robbery warrant at about 7 a.m. at a home in the 100 block of Chestnut Avenue in Hercules, Hercules police said.
Carroll allegedly fled the home through a back window. Hercules police said an officer shot Carroll after seeing him reach for a weapon.
Carroll then went back into the home where he was apprehended. He suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was taken to the hospital to be treated for the injury, which did not appear to be life-threatening.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and Hercules police are investigating the shooting.
In addition to Carroll, Gregg Fite, 34, was arrested on an outstanding murder warrant and Joseph Carroll, 22, was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Oakland Acting Police Chief Howard Jordan said of today’s operation, “We are highly sensitive to the ongoing issues involving firearms within our city. We put significant resources into this investigation and today’s operation and are here to stem the tide of violence within our community."
