GILROY
– City police arrested an 18-year-old local man Thursday in
connection with a suspected gang stabbing Wednesday evening, plus a
strongarm bicycle robbery just before Christmas.
GILROY – City police arrested an 18-year-old local man Thursday in connection with a suspected gang stabbing Wednesday evening, plus a strongarm bicycle robbery just before Christmas.
Police say there were two completely unrelated stabbings Wednesday, and they arrested Joshua Michael Munoz in connection with one of them – they would not say which.
Police suspect gang involvement in the stabbings, and the department’s gang-specialist Anti-Crime Team is investigating them.
Munoz faces charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon for the stabbing, plus a misdemeanor probation violation.
Police arrested him at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at his 8360 N. Forest St. home. He was in county jail Friday without possibility of bail.
Police also linked Munoz to a Dec. 23 robbery, adding a third felony to his list of charges.
On that day at about 1:40 p.m., Police say Munoz and two other males attacked a 14-year-old boy and stole his bike.
While driving in a primer-gray ’70s Chevrolet pickup truck at IOOF Avenue and Monterey Street, police said the young men saw the boy on the bike and demanded he give them his cellular phone.
When the boy refused, Police say Munoz got out of the truck and punched him in the face. One of Munoz’s companions put the bike in the back of the pickup, and they drove off.
Munoz is the second suspect police have arrested in this robbery. Police already booked an unnamed male under 18, who has been released from custody, according to ACT Officer Jim Gillio. Police say they know who the third suspect is, Gillio added.
Deputy District Attorney Stuart Scott, who prosecutes south Santa Clara County gang cases, said Munoz is a known gangster who has been charged with at least one previous robbery in the past year.
