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Community Corner

Proactive Police Work Pays Off

During the past several months Watsonville Police Officers, assigned to the “Adelante” Gang Grant, have been conducting an investigation into the sales of methamphetamine in the City of Watsonville by Hector Rocha. Officers with the assistance of the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force were able to gather enough evidence to obtain a search warrant for Rocha’s residence located in Aromas in Monterey County. On 03/31/14 Watsonville Police Officers with the assistance of a California Highway Patrol K-9 Officer served the search warrant at Rocha’s residence. Officers located six firearms including three semi-automatic pistols, a shotgun, an illegal sawed-off rifle and a banned assault rifle with large capacity magazines. Several of the firearms were found loaded including the assault rifle. One of the pistols had been reported stolen out of Seattle, Washington. The firearms were determined to belong to Rocha who is a convicted felon and cannot legally posse firearms. Officers also located gang indicia and evidence of narcotic sales and illegal firearm transactions.

Rocha was arrested on a number of firearm violations and a gang enhancement including felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of an illegal and banned firearm, possession of high capacity magazines and child endangerment. Rocha was booked into the Monterey County Jail and his bail was set at $300,000. Anyone with further information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the WPD Investigations Unit (831) 768-3352 or the Crime Tip Line at (831) 768-3544.

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