Independence police arrested six illegal-immigrant Hispanic men, some of whom were charged with federal illegal possession of a firearm and identity theft.
Police arrested five adult men and a juvenile after a fight at an Independence motel on Aug. 15.
All but the juvenile are in the process of being deported from the United States, according to police.
Officers went to the America’s Best Value Inn on east 42nd Terrace South on an assault call around 2 a.m. that day.
An officer spotted a Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicle leaving the parking lot. Six Hispanic men were in the vehicle, which the officer stopped near 44th Street and Noland Road.
Officers found a Kel-Tec 9 mm handgun under the seat and two steak knives. The handgun was loaded.
The driver didn’t have a valid driver license and proof of insurance. The other men were covered in sweat and told the officer “they had been dancing,” according to the police report.
But witnesses at the motel told police there had been a “large Hispanic gang fight” and they had spray-painted the area with “SUR 13,” a Mexican-American street gang name.
The driver was identified as 30-year-old Jose D. Bibriesca, but that was an alias. His real name is Antonio Ramirez-Lopez. Federal authorities charged him with aggravated identity theft.
Passengers were identified as Alejandro Gonzales, 19, Osvaldo Gonzales-Gonzales, 18, Carlos Martinez, 19, and Marlon A. Perez-Pineda, 18.
The gun allegedly belonged to Gonzales-Gonzales, whom federal officials charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearm. He’s in custody of U.S marshals.
Police say Gonzales-Gonzales has been deported once already. A second deportation becomes an automatic felony with the federal government, so he could be facing jail time.
An investigation found Alejandro Gonzales is heavily involved in SUR 13 and has been since age 12, police said. SUR 13 – or Surenos 13, which was started in Los Angeles – is responsible for murder, drug trafficking, extortion, assault, auto theft, robbery and hate crimes. The men wore similar gang tattoos, according to police.
An officer recognized the juvenile, whose name and age were not released, as being a known Kansas City gang member from previous contacts.
Police issued city violations for no operator’s license, no insurance, interfering with police, resisting arrest, not wearing a seat belt and unlawful use of a weapon.
Blood was found on Ramirez-Lopez’s shoes and white tank-top. Martinez had a large bruise on his nose and his eyes were bloodshot.
Police also noticed a bullet hole in the vehicle’s dashboard.
Officers contacted agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which also investigated the incident.
