3 jailed in Atwater vehicle attack are gang members, police say

Three men, described by police as known gang members, were arrested earlier this week in Atwater after they allegedly attacked a vehicle with a child inside, the Police Department reported.

Lt. Samuel Joseph said it remains unclear exactly why three alleged Sureño gang members went after the family. No one was injured.

Alberto Grijalva, 18, was arrested along with two others who were on parole: Erick Guillen, 28, and Joaquin Flores III, 23, Atwater police said.

“All three of these guys are documented gang members known to law enforcement,” Joseph said, praising the officers involved in making the arrests.

Police responded at 2:20 a.m. Monday to a 76 gas station at 2775 Winton Way in Atwater after receiving reports of some type of vandalism in progress, with at least one person believed to be armed.

A man later identified as Grijalva was kicking a vehicle with a man, woman and a 1-year-old child inside for reasons that remain unclear, Joseph said.

Officers learned three men had run away just prior to the arrival of police. An Atwater detective, shortly after the incident, stopped a vehicle with three men inside who were later identified as the three gang members allegedly involved in the incident at the gas station, police said.

Grijalva was booked into Merced County jail without bail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, a gang enhancement and making criminal threats. Guillen and Flores were booked on parole violations. Details on their prior criminal convictions were not immediately available.

All three men were still in custody Tuesday afternoon.

This story was originally published December 9, 2014 at 5:06 PM with the headline "3 jailed in Atwater vehicle attack are gang members, police say."