A new motorcycle gang in Fresno received some pushback with the arrests of four members after what police described as the "severe beating" of two innocent men outside a nightclub.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer announced the arrests of the Malos Hechos members — the name translates roughly to "made bad" in Spanish — at a news conference Thursday.
A crucial piece of evidence that led to the arrests Wednesday was a graphic video posted on Facebook of the March 7 beating outside Crossroads nightclub in central Fresno.
Four Malos Hechos members were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon: Apolinio Martinez, 40, Daniel Telles, 25, Christopher Martinez Jr., 21, and Christopher Martinez Sr., 42. The charges included a gang enhancement.
While search warrants were being served, two others also were arrested: Joaquin Quijada Sr., 41, on suspicion of felony weapons charges, and Natalie Arias, 36, on suspicion of drug sales.
Police are in the process of getting Malos Hechos classified as an outlaw gang, Dyer said. Police have identified 15 of its members, seven of whom are validated Bulldog gang members.
Crossroads has become a hangout for gang members, Dyer said. On March 23, Fresno resident Janae Tatum was shot in the head and killed at the nightclub, allegedly by gang member Craig Foster, 44. Foster also allegedly shot Tatum's husband, Herman Tatum.
Foster has not been found and could be back in the Fresno area, Dyer said.
Thursday's news conference comes almost two weeks after another media briefing by Dyer, who on April 4 addressed 30 shootings in the past 28 days.
Dyer vowed that police are stepping up efforts to combat gang violence in the city, and that the uptick in crime would not turn into a "long-term trend."
On Thursday morning, the reports were better: Just seven shootings in the past 14 days and a decrease in gang shootings and violent crime, Dyer said.
