Two stabbed on First Street; teen suspects flee police, who end
chase with intervention
Gilroy – A highspeed chase on Rosanna Street ended in dramatic fashion on a small cul-de-sac where police used their cruisers, a Taser and pepperspray to subdue two teens accused of stabbing a man and a woman in a gang-related incident late Wednesday night.
Hollister resident Gerardo Flores and Gilroy resident Hector Farias, both 19, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, recklessly evading police and for a hit and run accident. Two Gilroy residents, a male, 27, and a female, 22, were stabbed in the upper body and were taken to area hospitals.
As of Thursday, the 27-year-old victim was recovering in the hospital while the female was treated and released.
The incident began about 11:15pm when an officer heading westbound on First Street heard screaming and saw a car speeding away from a crowd converged in the middle of the road, police said.
“We have witnesses and the victims saying that (Flores and Farias) had been yelling out gang things during this altercation,” Cpl. Veronica Georges said.
The officer pursued the dark Acura down Rosanna Street. However, Flores, who was driving the vehicle, failed to pull over and drove erratically through stop signs at a high rate of speed and hitting a parked vehicle during the chase, Georges said.
Police performed an intervention technique on Devon Place, using a police cruiser to stop the Acura on the cul-de-sac.
“They were definitely driving recklessly. Due to their erratic driving and how dangerous it was, that’s why an intervention technique was used,” Anti-Crime Team Investigator Jeff Roccaforte said. “Because of the (concern) for safety it had to be terminated like that.”
Both Flores and Farias resisted arrest and disobeyed police commands, forcing officers to use a Taser and pepperspray to subdue Flores, he said. Flores resisted initially, but did not require additional force.
According to a Devon Place resident who asked to remain anonymous, the pursuit ended right in his driveway.
“I was lying in bed and I heard the sirens … they got closer and closer. I heard the getaway car screeching (on Rosanna) and within five seconds I heard a boom,” he said, explaining how police used the cruiser to hit the driver side of the Acura to force it to stop.
“They must have just blown through the police area. It was very, very unusual,” he said. “The only people who come down our court is if they live down here or are lost. I thought it was an episode of COPS. It got my adrenaline going.”
One knife was used in the attack and police declined to comment on whether one or both men performed the stabbing.
Most of the area businesses along First Street were closed by the time the incident started and did not see anything. However, J-V Liquors owner Allan Sulaiman, was trying to close up his store around 11pm when it got busy and people started streaming in. He did not hear anything until police cruisers sped by his door with lights and sirens.
“Police were looking in the bushes,” he said, pointing to shrubbery near a shopping plaza across the street.
Neighbors in the Rosanna and First street areas reported that there has been an increase in the number of fights breaking out between young people.
One Rosanna Street resident, who declined to give her name, said the activity level has been on the rise.
“Because of the traffic you don’t get to hear much, but lately there’s been a lot of fights,” she said. “They’re like 18 to 22 years old … Every week or every two weeks there’s fights.”
The Anti-Crime Team is investigating the case and will pursue a gang enhancement charge for both Flores and Farias.
Have a Tip?
Anyone with information about this case may call
Jeff Roccaforte at 846-0350. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call 846-0330.
