Eleven people believed to be associated with a Palm Springs gang were arrested Thursday as part of a multi-agency sweep aimed at removing illegal firearms from Coachella Valley neighborhoods.
The arrests resulted from an investigation dubbed "Operation Gatekeeper Heat" that began in April and targeted weapon and drug offenders, said Palm Springs police Chief David Dominguez.
"Our goal is to make sure that neighborhoods are safe from narcotics dealing and gun violence," Dominguez said.
The investigation focused on members and associates of the Gateway Posse Crips, which is mainly based in the northern end of Palm Springs, but has ties throughout the Coachella Valley.
Six people were arrested previously, and six suspects were still being sought, including two suspects wanted on federal narcotics and weapons charges.
Dominguez sent out a plea to the fugitives at a news conference, asking them to turn themselves in.
"You're wanted. You can run, but you can't hide," he said.
Thursday's raid began at 5 a.m., when more than 125 law enforcement officers targeted 35 locations in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and Banning, Dominguez said.
Around 40 weapons, including a sawed-off shot gun and an assault rifle, were seized during the investigation, said Agent Keith Krolczyk of the Riverside office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The weapons were taken during undercover purchases and warrants, Krolczyk said.
Arrested were:
-- Raymond Smith, 39, of Palm Springs, on a federal narcotics charge;
-- Steven Ammerson, 29, of Banning, on a federal weapons charge;
-- Janisa Neal, 31, of Banning, on federal weapons charges;
-- Rick Davis, 48, of Palm Springs, on a narcotics charge;
-- Deiter Crawford, 26, of Palm Springs, on a narcotics charge;
-- Lavareck Ware, 33, of Palm Springs, on a narcotics charge;
-- Derrick Pine, 30, of Palm Springs, on a narcotics charge;
-- Russell Manning, 20, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges;
-- Michael Williams, 344, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges;
-- Devin Session, 19, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges;
-- Brandon Fenton, 25, of Palm Springs, on a probation violation;
-- Eugene Booty, 41, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges;
-- Gary Clayton, 52, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges;
-- Roshad Davis, 21, of Cathedral City, on narcotics charges;
-- Altonia Jackson, 34, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges;
-- Danny McPeters, 52, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges; and
-- Margaret Phillips, 48 of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges.
The six suspects being sought are:
-- Zachary Clayton, 38, of Palm Springs, on federal narcotics charges;
-- Dominick Winzer, 25, of Palm Springs, on federal weapons charges;
-- Dimitri Allen, 32, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges;
-- Tommy Roberts, 47, of Palm Springs, on narcotics charges;
-- Jahrod Shelton, 30, of Cathedral City, on narcotics charges; and
-- Martel Wash, 26, of Palm Springs, on assault charges.
The FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, ATF, Riverside County District Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Department and Cathedral City and Indio police participated in the raid.
