FRESNO – Police arrested a man and seized several guns in a large-scale operation intended to find people who have been involved in violent crimes and were currently armed.
The Fresno Police Department’s Gun Crime Unit and the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) conducted 16 probation searches throughout Fresno. During a search in the area of Jensen and Walnut avenues, plainclothes officers saw Davonte Kendricks, a Muhammad Family gang member out on bail for a felony charge and on felony probation for property crimes in San Joaquin County.
Kendricks saw police approaching and walked into a nearby residence, but came outside not long later, authorities said. When officers searched the residence, they found a loaded 9 mm pistol hidden in the couch. Kendricks told officers that he had gone inside the house and hidden the gun when he saw the patrol units approaching. Kendricks claimed the gun was for protection from rival gang members, police said.
He was arrested and booked into Fresno County Jail on firearm-related charges.
A search warrant served at a home near Tulare and Peach avenues resulted in the seizure of two rifles and a shotgun, all stores improperly under children’s beds, according to police.
