2 known gang members arrested during stop in Ventura County

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office arrested two known gang members during a traffic stop Thursday afternoon in El Rio.

Sheriff’s investigators attempted to stop 20-year-old Gerald Silva at around 2 p.m. on the 300 block of Stroube Street. Silva is a known gang member and is currently on parole.

Silva was in a vehicle with Joel Mendoza, 20, of El Rio, another known gang member who was recently released from California State Prison.

While deputies attempted to conduct the traffic stop, Mendoza exited the moving vehicle and fled on foot. Deputies said Mendoza ran in the area of nearby homes, jumped over fences and tried to discard narcotic paraphernalia — which was later located by a sheriff’s K-9 unit.

Mendoza was arrested and booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he faces possible charges for resisting and/or obstructing a public officer, narcotic related violations, and violation of terms of his release.

While deputies pursued Mendoza, Silva drove off in his vehicle. Deputies searched the area and located Silva on the 2500 block of Cortez Street. He was found to be in possession of narcotics and was arrested on multiple parole violations.

Both Silva and Mendoza were booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility.