Police: Suspected gang members cited for gathering in Salinas during Shelter in Place

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) Several suspected Norteno gang members from Salinas and Gonzales were cited Tuesday after police said they were gathering while a Shelter in Place order is in effect.

Salinas police were called to the 0-100 block of Center Street at about 7:50 p.m. after a report of a large crowd causing a disturbance in front of a home.

When officers got there, they said several people tried to run away. They caught 18-year-old Xavier Jimenez, 19-year-old Andrew Rodriguez, 19-year-old Juan Alvarez, 18-year-old Alexis Esquivel, 18-year-old Ray Conno Jr., 18-year-old Chase Corral and two juveniles. Police said they are all suspected Norteno gang members from Salinas and Gonzales.

Officers said they found that the group was out drinking and smoking marijuana and had been warned about gathering in a large group already by the Violence Suppression Task Force. During the investigation, they also found out that several of them were on probation.

All of them were cited for violating the Shelter in Place order, and some were cited for probation violations.