Police Still Searching for Alleged Gang Members Suspected in Alicia Park Stabbing

Rohnert Park police are still searching for three alleged gang members suspected of stabbing a 19-year-old Rohnert Park man at Alicia Park Dec. 5.

"We're absolutely still investigating," said Lt. Jeff Taylor, with the Department of Public Safety. "It is an active investigation, but we have no new information at this time."

Taylor said there is information that implies the suspects are affiliated with a gang, but police are not limiting their search.

"We're still actively investigating," he said. "Yes we do have gang members and gang activity in Rohnert Park. Is it a problem? All gang members are a problem."

Taylor said comparatively with other Sonoma County cities, Rohnert Park doesn't have an "overwhelming" problem. However, gang members who identify as Norteños and Soreños are active in the county, he said, and gang activity isn't necessarily limited geographically.

"There's over 138 different gang members in Sonoma County," Taylor said. "Statisticallly, [Norteños and Soreños] are the two gangs with the largest amount of members, followed by the Hells Angels."

That evening of Dec. 5, the Rohnert Park teen was stabbed after he was confronted by three suspected gang members, according to Sgt. Jeff Nicks, of the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.

The teen and his 24-year-old uncle were sitting in the bleachers at the baseball field in Alicia Park on Santa Alicia Drive around 6 p.m., Nicks said, when two men between 30 and 40 years old and a 16- or 17-year-old boy approached them and asked if they were gang members, Nicks said.

The uncle said they were not and words were exchanged, Nicks said.

The three suspects then moved in front of the teen and his uncle and one of them released pepper spray, Nicks said.

The uncle moved out of the way but his nephew was blinded and stabbed several times in the arm and lower right back, Nicks said. The suspects ran when the uncle used his cellphone to call authorities.

Police searched the area but did not fund the suspects.

The teen was treated for injuries at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Nicks said. The victims were unable to describe the suspects further, he added.

Police are searching for the alleged gang members, and are asking the community for help. Anyone with information is asked to call the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety at 707-584-2600.

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