Police arrest five on gang charges

  Members of the Yuma Police Department Investigations Bureau, the Arizona GITEM and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Vehicle Theft Task Force served four search warrants at known gang members' residences Friday.

  According to a YPD news release, the warrants were served in reference to a criminal investigation being conducted by their agency.

  Five known gang members were taken into custody, police said. They were booked on charges of participating in a criminal street gang and gang threats for allegedly promoting gang activity on the popular Web site, MySpace.

  Arrested were Steven Salazar, 18, Manuel Salazar, 20, Jose Montano, 17, Antonio Mendez, 17, and Salomon Allen, 16.

  During the service of the search warrant, several items identifying gang paraphernalia, narcotics, city property and a stolen vehicle were recovered, according to the news release.

  The YPD stated in the news release that the gang unit will continue to investigate similar activities by gang members as an ongoing investigation into recent gang violence in the community.

  Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the YPD at 783-4421 or 78-Crime to remain anonymous.