Four of 16 Arrests from Worcester Police Summer Gang Investigation Were in April

Thursday, October 08, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Reporter

On Tuesday, the Worcester Police Department announced the arrests of 16 gang members on firearm charges as a result of an investigation that began over the summer.

According to a GoLocalWorcester analysis of arrest records, four of the 16 gang member arrests occurred from April 27 to April 29, in three separate incidents - nearly six months before they were reported as part of a large summer investigation.

Additionally, four of the reported eight confiscated weapons stemmed from these four April arrests.

At the time of the announcement, Chief Gary J. Gemme said, “The Worcester police department aggressively targeted gun violence over the summer months after seeing a spike in shooting incidents throughout the city. We developed a number of strategies in collaboration with the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Agency to address the problem and make our neighborhoods safer.”

The WPD provided no dates of arrests beyond that they were part of a summer investigation, and although it sounds as if this investigation was orchestrated and coordinated to tackle the city's gang issues, one quarter of the arrests occurred before the summer and several of the arrests happened by opportunity (multiple reports of shots fired, Shotspotter alerts, and reports of fights).

A source with the Worcester Police Department was asked if the 16 arrests all happened recently or if they were over the course of several months. That source told GoLocal, "I don't really know. I would think it was an investigation that finally ended."

GoLocal requested clarification of the time of the arrests from the WPD, but the WPD did not immediately respond.

SEE SLIDES BELOW: Dates of Arrests of Gang Members in Worcester

According to the WPD, the investigation that began this summer was a joint effort between the WPD and the Worcester Police Gang Unit, the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

GoLocalWorcester found that seven of the gang members were arrested in August and one in September. All were arrested on multiple firearm charges. According to the WPD, five of the gang members were victims or perpetrators of gun violence.

In an email to the City Council, City Manager Ed Augustus wrote, "Today is a perfect example of why the city prioritizes long-term investigations and behind-the-scenes work over more conspicuous quick-fixes, which may make us feel better but don’t actually make the residents of Worcester any safer. This kind of work gets bad guys off the streets for a long time...The round ups, mass arrests, and scattershot boots-on-the-ground visibility campaigns advocated by some may seem like action, but these strategies are often counterproductive. When we allow the dedicated law enforcement professionals of the Worcester Police Department and their partners in state and federal agencies to do what they do best - police work - we see results that make a difference."

The following gang members and/or associates were charged with various firearms offenses:

Daniel Grajales, 26, of 7 S Buffum Street, Worcester
Michael Ruiz, 26, of 14 Ellis Drive, Apartment 2, Worcester
Steven Price, 19, of 39 Gibbs Street, Worcester
George Russell, 18 of 12 Ashton Street, Apartment 1, Worcester
Justin Hammond, 18, of 47 Grosvenor Street, Apartment 3R, Worcester
Jonathan Luciano, 21, of 155 Mill Street, Apartment 2, Worcester
Terrence Kenol, 18, of 22 Washburn Street, Apartment 1, Worcester
Jeremiah Perez, 18, of 8 Henshaw Street, Apartment 3, Worcester
Tamra Nicacio, 20, of 43 Franklin Terrace, Southbridge
Lewis Jennings, 24, of 1 Avalon Drive, Northborough
Christian Martinez, 20, of 98 Piedmont Street, Apartment 802 Worcester
Joshua Castro, 19, of 47 Park Terrace Road, Apartment 2, Worcester
Christian Carasquillo, 18, of 47 Lafayette Street, Apartment 3, Worcester
Juvenile of Worcester
Devonte Barnes, 19, of 2 Turner Avenue, Apartment 1, Worcester
Patrice Bennet, 26, of 7 Russell Street, Apartment 1, Worcester

Related Slideshow: See the List: The Where, When and Why of 12 Gang Member Arrests

GoLocalWorcester was unable to obtain arrest records for the following gang members and associates:

George Russell, 18, of 12 Ashton Street, Apartment 1, Worcester
Patrice Bennet, 26, of 7 Russell Street, Apartment 1, Worcester
Tamra Nicacio, 20, of 43 Franklin Terrace, Southbridge
Juvenile of Worcester

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Christian Martinez

Age: 20

Address: 98 Piedmont Street, Apartment 802 Worcester

Jennings and Martinez were involved in a large fight with weapons on Canterbury Street. WPD officers caught the pair along with three others, including a 15-year-old male, that were charged with trespassing.

During the arrests, officers were able to obtain two firearms.

Date of Arrest: April 27, 2015

Charges: Possession of Firearm without an FID Card, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace and Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License.

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Lewis Jennings

Age: 24

Address: 1 Avalon Drive, Northborough

During the arrests, officers were able to obtain two firearms.

Date of Arrest: April 27, 2015

Charges: Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card, Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Possession of a Large Capacity Weapon or Feeding Device, Resisting Arrest, Receiving Stolen Property over $250 and Trespassing.

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Steven Price

Age: 19

Address: 39 Gibbs Street, Worcester

In response to a Shotspotter alert, a Worcester police officer found Price on Standish Street. Price was arrested and a 9 MM handgun was confiscated. See full details here: Steven Price

Date of Arrest: April 27, 2015

Charges: Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Dwelling, Possession of Large Capacity Firearm, Possession of a Firearm without and FID Card, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card and Possession of a Firearm with Defaced Serial Numbers.

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Devonte Barnes

Age: 19

Address: 2 Turner Avenue, Apartment 1, Worcester

Barnes was with a 15-year-old student from Burncoat High when he was arrested by WPD School Liaison officers.

The liaison officers were able to obtain loaded .22 caliber high capacity firearm from Barnes. See full details here: Devonte Barnes

Date of Arrest: April 29, 2015

Charges: 4 counts of Armed Assault with Intent to Murder, Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Dwelling, Unlawfully Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device and Possession of Ammunition without an FID.

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Michael Ruiz

Age: 26

Address: 14 Ellis Drive, Apartment 2, Worcester

Ruiz was arrested following a fight in the middle of Water Street. Officers found a loaded semi-automatic firearm and five rounds. See full details here: Michael Ruiz

Date of Arrest: August 9, 2015

Charges: Seven (7) counts of Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

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Jonathan Luciano

Age: 21

Address: 155 Mill Street, Apartment 2, Worcester

During a traffic stop due failure to use a turn signal, both Luciano and a second member on this list were pulled over. When the driver of the car reached for his registration, a firearm fell out. WPD seized then gun and both men were arrested. See full details here: Jonathan Luciano

Date of Arrest: August 11, 2015

Charges: Defacing the Serial Number of a Firearm and Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License.

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Justin Hammond

Age: 18

Address: 47 Grosvenor Street, Apartment 3R, Worcester

Hammond, along with two other known gang members on this list, were arrested following a Gang Unit investigation. WPD officers seized a handgun, pellet gun and large knife following a vehicle stop. Full full details, click here: Justin Hammond

Date of Arrest: August 25, 2015

Charges: Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card and Carrying a Firearm without a License.

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Terrence Kenol

Age: 18

Address: 22 Washburn Street, Apartment 1, Worcester

Date of Arrest: August 25, 2015

For full details, see Justin Hammond above.

Charges: Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card and Carrying a Firearm without a License.

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Jeremiah Perez

Age: Jeremiah Perez

Address: 8 Henshaw Street, Apartment 3, Worcester

For full details, see Justin Hammond above.

Date of Arrest: August 25, 2015

Charges: Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card and Carrying a Firearm without a License.

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Daniel Grajales

Age: 26

Address: 7 S Buffum Street, Worcester

Grajales crashed his motorcycle trying to flee from police. He was found to have a handgun on his person. See full details here: Daniel Grajales

Date of Arrest: August 30, 2015

Charges: Four counts of Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Failing to Keep Safe Distance when Passing, Motorcycle Passing Vehicle in Same Lane, Failure to Stop for Emergency Vehicle, Speeding, Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License (3rd offense), Operating Negligently so as to Endanger and Illegally Attaching Stolen License Plates. Mr. Grajales will also be charged with being an Armed Career Criminal.

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Joshua Castro

Age: 19

Address: 47 Park Terrace Road, Apartment 2, Worcester

Castro and Carasquillo were arrested and found responsible for a home invasion on Plum Street off of Shrewsbury Street that occurred on August 31. The pair robbed in the people living in the home and assaulted them. See full details here: Joshua Castro

Date of Arrest: September 4, 2015

Charges: 2 counts of Home Invasion, 2 counts of Armed Robbery, Carrying a Firearm Unlawfully, Carrying a Loaded Firearm Unlawfully, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Dwelling, Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (firearm), 2 counts of Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (firearm), Carrying a Firearm Unlawfully, Carrying a Loaded Firearm Unlawfully, Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (firearm), Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Improper Storage of a Firearm and Resisting Arrest.