Neighbors Help Catch Suspect in Gang Attack

Three gang-related attacks on the same street in less than 24 hours last weekend prompted Jasper Way residents to take back their neighborhood, Watsonville police reported.

Neighbors' assistance helped the police department's gang unit arrest two men suspected of causing the violence, including one arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The attacks began around 6:50 p.m. Friday when a man and his son reportedly were harassed by gang members, who threw rocks at them. No one was hurt, but police weren't able to catch the rock-throwers, who drove off in a car.

Less than an hour later, the gangsters were back, this time throwing rocks at the man's home. Two teenagers—Mario Fregoso, 18, and Patrick Diaz, 19—were arrested as they were running away, police reported.

Fregoso and Diaz are both gang members on probation. Police said they were drunk and both were arrested on suspicion of violating their probation terms.

But Fregoso allegedly was back at it a day later. Around 3:15 p.m. Saturday, police were again called to Jasper Way, because the same man had been attacked by two people wielding a baseball bat, police reported. The pair yelled gang slurs and claimed the neighborhood as theirs while they beat him.

Witnesses identified Fregoso as one of the attackers, police said.

On Tuesday, Fregoso was arrested near his Hill Avenue home on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Police are still looking for the second attacker and ask the public to call the Investigations Bureau at 831-768-3350 or the crime tip line at 831-768-3544.