Vallejo police, FBI unveil new approach to reducing violent crime

VALLEJO, Calif. -
The Vallejo Police Department on Thursday announced arrests resulting from a new collaboration with local and federal law enforcement agencies to curb violent crime.

Agencies working together

What we know:

The partnership includes the Department of Justice, FBI, ATF and Solano County Sheriff's Office.

"I believe that when we have success, we need to celebrate those successes," said Vallejo Police Chief Jason Ta. "We know we can't arrest our way out of these problems and challenges that we face, but we need a surgical and very strategic approach."

Authorities have already carried out a number of raids, including one Thursday morning at a home daycare facility. The owner, Erica Higuera, 38, and her 18-year-old son, Humberto Higuera, were arrested. Agents seized guns and drugs, including 11 pistols, one rifle, $100,000 in cash, and 11,000 suspected fentanyl pills, said Special Agent Sid Patel, with the FBI Sacramento office.

Michele Beckwith, acting U.S. Attorney in Sacramento, noted the timing of the raid.

"I think someone was dropping off a child is my understanding right this morning when the operation was happening," Beckwith said.

City leaders said they welcome their federal partners and their resources, especially with cash-strapped Vallejo dealing with fewer officers on the streets.

"This effort speaks to the value of collaboration and interagency partnership, and collaboration, particularly when we're dealing with issues of trafficking and gang activity," said Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce.

A number of cases have been charged in federal court for a variety of gun- and weapons-related crimes.

"These include a machine gun, what we call PMFs, personally manufactured firearms or ghost guns, and those are hard guns to trace," Beckwith said.

Patel said, "These arrests are not the end of our efforts. We will continue to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations that threaten the safety and security of our communities."

Patricia Hunter, president of the Vallejo chapter of the NAACP, said the community is grateful for the recent law enforcement activity.

"This was a good success story of what's going on in Vallejo in regards to drug violence, drug trafficking," Hunter said. "So we call it a win-win for us today."

The mayor issued a stern warning: "I want to send a message to the criminal element, that the days of thinking that you can come to Vallejo and do your business with impunity are over," Sorce said.

Recent crime

What we know:

Most recently, a woman was shot to death on Feb. 14 in the 400 block of Sheldon Avenue. The suspect in that case, 27-year-old Imani Marquise Robinson, was arrested on Monday.

On Feb. 17, two boys were arrested for participating in an armed carjacking in the 100 block of Larissa Lane.

The city has seen its share of sideshows and reckless activity, and the police department said last month that the California Highway Patrol would help in disrupting that sort of criminal activity.