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Home Invasion Gang Leader Arrested
Phoenix police on Friday announced the arrest of a 29-year-old "ringleader" of a home-invasion crew they believe is one of many similar crews or cells responsible for a rash of home invasions and kidnappings.Jose Saenz is accused of leading several attacks, though investigators declined to explain if the Saenz crew went after drugs or human trafficking or other items. Saenz, who was arrested Thursday by a swarming SWAT team on West Camelback Road, will likely face several charges of armed robbery for his role in what police described as a rash of home invasions in Phoenix. He could face additional charges of aggravated assault and kidnapping, Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said. Police served two search warrants at west Phoenix homes this week in connection to the case, seizing an AR-15 assault rifle, handguns and a tactical vest similar to those used by police. One of two others arrested in the case, 36-year-old Allan Yair Valenti-Najera, reportedly used a fake ID to get a job as a bail bondsman's bounty hunter despite being prohibited from using a firearm, police said. The hundreds of Phoenix kidnappings and home invasions reported annually are characterized as drug-related violence driven by gangs ripping off competitors. Some cases involved masked gunmen who emulated police or military maneuvers. "Now you have people identifying themselves as police, using AR-15s and Glock handguns," said Sgt. Phil Roberts, one of the Phoenix supervisors of the Home Invasion Kidnapping Enforcement task force. Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-05-30 |
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