Police Chief Assures Public of Robust Gang Enforcement

Gang crime in San Clemente is less overall and the police department's gang unit is up to the task of prevention and response, Orange County Sheriff's Department Lt. Paul D'Auria, chief of San Clemente Police Services.

D'Auria spoke at the San Clemente City Council meeting Tuesday night to reassure the public that despite two recent violent gang-related incidents, the department was doing its utmost to put suspected gang members behind bars.

"In both of those events, we made arrests within hours," he said.

That incident was thoroughly reported, but details have been slow to emerge about the second, a non-fatal shooting that happened early Saturday morning.

D'Auria said that overall gang crime has dropped, and San Clemente deputies have put dozens of suspected gang members in jail since the Orange County District Attorney agreed to place large swaths of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano under a gang injuction several years ago.

The injunction puts in place restrictions for a list of gang members identified by police, including limitations on clothing, curfews, personal associations. People on the list can be arrested for breaking those rules.

D'Auria pointed to the arrest of 10 gang members in connection with a July 4 shooting in San Juan. He also said that witnesses and victims are less intimidated in recent years and have come forward to help the police build cases against suspected gang members.

City Manager George Scarborough agreed.

"Ten years ago, it was very difficult to get people to come forward," he said.

The lieutenent also pointed to good work by Deputy David Pultz, who has recently been put on gang duty. He has received several commendations for his recent work, including capturing a number of graffiti practitioners and successfully applying for a grant to help clean up the downtown bar area.

The Saturday Shooting

Jim Amormino, OCSD spokesman, said the Saturday shooting happened at close to 3 a.m. on Avenida Santa Barbara, but witnesses have told Patch it was actually on Avenida Victoria. This is something we're working on confirming.

Witnesses told police that the shooting was a drive-by and gave a description of the vehicle.

Police in San Juan Capistrano caught up to the subjects near Camino Capistrano and El Camino Real. When they attempted to pull them over, the vehicle stopped abruptly and slammed into reverse, crashing into the front of the police cruiser, Amormino said.

The suspects fled on foot, and deputies set up a perimeter, shortly arresting both. Only one man was charged with two counts of attempted murder; Nectali Rodriguez, 20.

Rodriguez also faces a charge of street terrorism, and two enhancements each for allegedly being a member of a criminal street gang and for premeditated attempted murder.

The names of those arrested and their specific charges are unclear, but police officials said they would email the names of the suspects Wednesday.

D'Auria told the council that the shooting and brick attack were only partially connected; both part of a large fight that had escalated.

The two victims of the Saturday shooting are recovering: one got a bullet through the ear, one required surgery for a bullet graze wound on his head, Amormino said.

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