Josha and Teari Watts
RICHMOND – Working in collaboration with the Contra Costa County FBI Safe Streets Task Force, local law enforcement authorities last week nabbed two more reputed criminal gang members.
A total of six individuals have been arrested during a year-long investigation of violent gang crimes, which have included several murders, several shootings, home-invasion robberies, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking involving sex, and credit card fraud.
Richmond police detectives launched an ongoing investigation in July 2016 targeting the city’s notorious Manor Boyz gang. Upon learning the extent of criminal gang activities, Richmond police requested FBI assistance in January of this year.
Arrests have been made for crimes committed in Richmond, Oakland and San Jose, and have resulted in the confiscation of 10 loaded pistols, an AR-15 assault rifle, heroin, a credit card skimmer, and other criminal evidence.
The most recently nabbed suspected gangster is 20-year-old Javier Flores of San Pablo, who was arrested on July 20 by Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputies, shortly after he allegedly shot a 12-year-old boy at approximately 7 p.m., near the intersection of Truman Street and Chelsey Avenue in Richmond. The victim was airlifted to a hospital for medical treatment.
Flores is being held in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility, charged with attempted murder, assault with a firearm, participating in a criminal gang, and contempt for disobeying a court order. Bail for his release was set at $570,000.
On July 17, Richmond police arrested a 15-year-old boy, a suspected gang member from El Cerrito, who is charged with murdering 20-year old Allie Sweitzer, of Discovery Bay. Sweitzer, who later died—was shot in May during an argument with the suspect at Booker T. Anderson Park in Richmond.
Four other gang members have been arrested on various charges since 2016. Meanwhile, two more suspected gang members Josha Watts, 19, and Teari Watts, 20, both of Richmond, remain at-large and are being sought by police.
