Westminster Seeks Injunction to Curb Gang Activities

WESTMINSTER —  In an unusual maneuver against gangs, the city attorney Wednesday sought a court order prohibiting 60 named gang members from gathering, fighting, trespassing, carrying weapons or intimidating residents in a northwest neighborhood.

Although most of what the suit seeks is already illegal, City Atty. Richard Jones said a court order would put the gang members on notice.

“It makes it more clear to the court,” Jones said, “so that if (a violation) occurs, the court can issue a contempt citation much more quickly.”

The suit is the first of its kind in the county, he said.

According to the suit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, the gang is terrorizing residents in the area contained by Golden West and Hoover streets, Trask Avenue and Westminster Boulevard.

Calling the gang a “public nuisance,” the suit said gang members are responsible for neighborhood murders, shootings, assault and battery, drug use and other crimes. Gang members also intimidate residents and vandalize, the suit said.

“We think it will be another tool in the arsenal to eliminate gang activities from the city of Westminster,” Jones said. “This is a civil remedy to keep the gang from ruining our neighborhoods.”

A similar injunction was issued in Los Angeles earlier this year, which bans a gang from a neighborhood after 8 p.m. and prohibits a number of otherwise legal activities. The injunction is being challenged in court.

At least one Westminster council member supports the injunction.

“I think it’s a good move to reduce the disturbance in the neighborhood,” Councilman Tony Lam said. “We need to do something to contain the gang activities, to give the residents a sense of security.”