Amador County – Gilbert Zaragoza, 19, a suspect currently being held for his alleged involvement in a suspected gang-related shooting at the Jackson Rancheria, was planning an escape from jail, according to reports Tuesday from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. According to Undersheriff Jim Wegner, correctional officers conducted a search of Zaragoza’s cell on June 6th and “noticed the screws securing a light fixture had been damaged.” Upon removing the fixture, “alert corrections staff” discovered a crawl space containing “a threaded bolt, an adjustable end wrench and a contraband tee shirt.” Wegner says “staff found where the bolt and wrench were used in an effort to chisel a portal through an exterior wall.” Zaragoza had etched two small grooves into the wall. “Unbeknownst to the inmate, the jail walls are solid concrete, twelve inches thick and steel reinforced, so successfully chiseling out of the facility with the items possessed was extremely unlikely,” says Wegner. On the same day, Antonio Zaragoza, inmate Zaragoza’s nineteen year old brother from Manteca, was detained after taking cell phone photographs of “the visiting area and associated security measures” during a visit to the jail visiting area. Wegner said Antonio was issued a citation for bringing a cellular device into a correctional facility, a misdemeanor, before being released. Amador County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Technician confirmed through subsequent examination that the latent finger print transfers on the evidence collected from Zaragoza’s cell were positively identified as his own. Zaragoza was arrested by Sheriff’s Correctional Staff on June 30 for attempted escape, possession of a weapon and damages to a jail facility in excess of $400. According to the official booking form, Zaragoza received a new bail charge of $50,000. Zaragoza, a documented member of the Lathrop Hispanic Pride gang, is one of two suspects booked into the Amador County Jail on two counts of attempted murder for shooting two alleged members of an opposing gang inside the Jackson Rancheria Casino on March 14th at approximately 5:30 am. Surveillance video shows Zaragoza and others enter the casino and open fire on the victims in what was apparently a confrontation between rival gangs from the Stockton area. Video footage from multiple angles shows the shooting take place within a small area in the casino’s restaurant. Two Hispanic male victims, one an 18-year-old man and the other a 15-year-old boy, were shot in the neck or face during the shooting. They were subsequently transported to area hospitals where they eventually recovered from their wounds. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 06:27
Correctional Officers Foil Escape Attempt by Rancheria Shooting Suspect
Amador County – Gilbert Zaragoza, 19, a suspect currently being held for his alleged involvement in a suspected gang-related shooting at the Jackson Rancheria, was planning an escape from jail, according to reports Tuesday from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. According to Undersheriff Jim Wegner, correctional officers conducted a search of Zaragoza’s cell on June 6th and “noticed the screws securing a light fixture had been damaged.” Upon removing the fixture, “alert corrections staff” discovered a crawl space containing “a threaded bolt, an adjustable end wrench and a contraband tee shirt.” Wegner says “staff found where the bolt and wrench were used in an effort to chisel a portal through an exterior wall.” Zaragoza had etched two small grooves into the wall. “Unbeknownst to the inmate, the jail walls are solid concrete, twelve inches thick and steel reinforced, so successfully chiseling out of the facility with the items possessed was extremely unlikely,” says Wegner. On the same day, Antonio Zaragoza, inmate Zaragoza’s nineteen year old brother from Manteca, was detained after taking cell phone photographs of “the visiting area and associated security measures” during a visit to the jail visiting area. Wegner said Antonio was issued a citation for bringing a cellular device into a correctional facility, a misdemeanor, before being released. Amador County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Technician confirmed through subsequent examination that the latent finger print transfers on the evidence collected from Zaragoza’s cell were positively identified as his own. Zaragoza was arrested by Sheriff’s Correctional Staff on June 30 for attempted escape, possession of a weapon and damages to a jail facility in excess of $400. According to the official booking form, Zaragoza received a new bail charge of $50,000. Zaragoza, a documented member of the Lathrop Hispanic Pride gang, is one of two suspects booked into the Amador County Jail on two counts of attempted murder for shooting two alleged members of an opposing gang inside the Jackson Rancheria Casino on March 14th at approximately 5:30 am. Surveillance video shows Zaragoza and others enter the casino and open fire on the victims in what was apparently a confrontation between rival gangs from the Stockton area. Video footage from multiple angles shows the shooting take place within a small area in the casino’s restaurant. Two Hispanic male victims, one an 18-year-old man and the other a 15-year-old boy, were shot in the neck or face during the shooting. They were subsequently transported to area hospitals where they eventually recovered from their wounds. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Latest from
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