LAKE COUNTY – Five people were arrested Thursday as part of an enforcement operation conducted by the Lake County Gang Task Force.

Lt. Dave Garzoli of the Lake County Sheriff's Office reported Friday that 17 local law enforcement officers from five different agencies took part in the operation, which targeted known or suspected members of criminal street gangs.

Participating agencies included the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Patrol and Investigations divisions, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Central Dispatch, Lakeport Police Department, Lake County Probation Department, California Highway Patrol and Lake County Narcotics Task Force.

Garzoli said the task force's activities Thursday took place at several locations in and around the Lakeport and Kelseyville areas, resulting in the five arrests.

The task force arrested 18-year-old student Armando Barajas Vasquez of Kelseyville for possession of a dangerous weapon with a gang member enhancement, Garzoli reported. Jail records indicated Vasquez's bail was set at $25,000. He remained in jail Friday night.

Two 16-year-old Hispanic male juveniles from Kelseyville also were arrested on probation violations, Garzoli reported.

Other arrestees included Brittney Leanne Amparo, 18, of Kelseyville for possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana in a motor vehicle; and Alfredo Corona-Ramirez, 20, a laborer from Finley, for obstructing/resisting a peace officer in performance of their duties.

Garzoli reported that the task force's mission is to gather intelligence on criminal street gangs, street gang members, and their associates and to conduct directed anti-gang law enforcement operations in effort to combat and suppress criminal street gangs and their influences in Lake County.

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