Crime

A Gilroy man accused of luring a 13-year-old runaway girl into a life of “turning tricks” was more agitated Tuesday by a judge's mispronunciation of his name, rather than a slew of felony charges that include pimping, committing lewd acts with a child and human trafficking.

Police are looking for a man in a white work van who allegedly made unwelcome advances toward a 15-year-old girl who did not know him, according to a press release from Morgan Hill Police. The victim was walking home about 5:30 p.m. Saturday near the 16000 block of Monterey Road when a male subject exited a white van that was parked in the area where she was walking, police said. The man approached the girl and said, “Hey beautiful,” according to police. The girl became scared and ran away without being harmed by the suspect, the press release said. The man got back into his vehicle and fled the scene. The suspect is described as an Indian man in his 30s, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, according to police. The vehicle he was in is described as a white work van with black rims and tinted windows. Anyone with information about this incident can call Morgan Hill Police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867. 

The Gilroy Police Department and Morgan Hill SWAT Team mobilized Tuesday morning to serve a high-risk search warrant related to a gang assault near Sixth and Maple streets in Gilroy. The gang assault occurred over the weekend and involved three to four suspects, a couple of whom are still at large, according to GPD Sgt. Pedro Espinoza.

Police arrested a 15-year-old Morgan Hill boy early Monday morning after he allegedly went on a late-night drunken vandalism spree that included painting a swastika on a church property.

Two Morgan Hill police officers were targeted by a pellet gun shooter while searching a creek bed for a missing person Thursday night, according to a press release from the MHPD. The officers were walking along the creek bed in the area of Ciolino and Spring avenues about 5:20 p.m. Thursday when someone shot at them from a backyard on Manor Court, police said. The shooter or shooters “nearly struck” both officers, the press release said. MHPD and Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies searched the area for the suspect or suspects but could not find them. The press release notes that shooting a pellet gun or any weapon that propels an object is a violation of Morgan Hill municipal code, and shooting it at another person is assault with a deadly weapon. Anyone with information about this incident can contact Morgan Hill police at (408) 779-2101, or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.

Here's your latest digest of criminal happenings in Gilroy, including a commercial burglary that was caught on tape, two incidents of domestic violence and an unsolved case of theft from a sunglass store.

Grand theft

The Gilroy Police Department responded to a variety of crimes last week, including human trafficking, lewd and lascivious acts with someone under 14, causing or permitting a child to suffer, and threats of violence. The arrests were recorded in the GPD blotter between Jan. 15 through 22. You can read more about the arrest of five suspects for felony human trafficking after police busted open what they call a “prostitution ring” by clicking here.

An investigation by the Gilroy Police Department last week revealed an alleged “prostitution ring” involving a 13-year-old Gilroy girl inside the Travel Inn at 5530 Monterey Road, according to GPD Sgt. Pedro Espinoza.

Authorities responded to a home on the 200 block of Martin Road Thursday afternoon, after a caller discovered a “suspicious white powder substance,” according to acting Fire Capt. Greg Lopez. The San Jose Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team determined at approximately 3 p.m. the substance was not hazardous.