Detectives with the Santa Maria Police Department’s Gang Suppression Team arrested a documented criminal street gang member on Thursday when he appeared in court for a scheduled appearance on an unrelated crime.
An arrest warrant was issued in August for Franky Hernandez for a crime that occurred in November 2010.
Sgt. Dan Cohen said Hernandez is suspected of supplying a firearm to a fellow gang member who then used that same firearm in a shooting.
New evidence recently surfaced that gave detectives probable cause to seek the arrest warrant, according to Cohen.
Hernandez was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, providing that firearm to a convicted felon, and being an active participant in a criminal street gang. He is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
— Noozhawk managing editor Michelle Nelson can be reached at mnelson@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
