Palm Avenue resident and Neighborhood Watch crusader Paul Gutierrez returned home Thursday from a brief hospitalization to learn police had raided a troublesome house a few doors over.
Gutierrez, 30, has been fighting gang violence and general trouble on his street since he, his girlfriend and their two children moved to Watsonville from Gilroy last month. He gained notoriety this week from media coverage, , about his efforts to rid Palm Avenue of gang bangers and petty thieves.
Thursday, Gutierrez reported police raided a home on Hill Avenue that had been a safe have for three gang members arrested—after a tip from Gutierrez—earlier this month for vandalism.
He said he plans to resume his door-to-door campaign for more Neighborhood Watch members on Friday, and will expand his efforts to three or four streets around Palm. About 53 Palm Avenue residents have already signed onto the effort; there are about 25 Neighborhood Watch groups in Watsonville.
Gutierrez was hospitalized at Watsonville Community Hosptial on Monday after a pre-existing condition flared up. TV news reported stress from confronting some kids contributed to the problem.
