Gang task force arrests 10 during sweep

The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force served a series of gang-associated search warrants in several cities on Thursday, leading to 10 arrests.

A total of 16 homes were searched beginning at 5:30 a.m.

Authorities said nine of the search warrants were served in Cathedral City, two took place in Desert Hot Springs, one search was conducted in Palm Desert, one in Thousand Palms, two in Rancho Mirage and one in Whitewater.

Some of the suspects were only arrested for misdemeanor charges, but authorities said they confiscated eight firearms, about 1,000 rounds of ammunition, high capacity magazines, over 1,500 grams of marijuana, about 10 grams of hashish, close to $1,000 in cash, gang indicia, scales, and other items related to drug sales.

According to the sheriff’s release, ten suspects were arrested on the following charges:

22-year-old Cathedral City resident Christopher Martinez – parole violation
21-year-old Cathedral City resident Jacob Winters – possession of hashish for sales
37-year-old Desert Hot Springs resident Michael Tagle – possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violation
25-year-old Rancho Mirage resident Rogelio Velasquez – two misdemeanor warrants
25-year-old Rancho Mirage resident Monica Sanchez – misdemeanor warrant
18-year-old Rancho Mirage resident Samuel Reyes – assault with a deadly weapon
24-year-old Cathedral City resident Louis Serrano – possession of high capacity magazine
19-year-old Cathedral City resident Daniel Ayala – alternating a serial number on a firearm
22-year-old Cathedral City resident Trevor Garcia – possession of marijuana for sales and possession of high capacity magazine

The suspects were all booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.