a known gang member was arrested by members of the watsonville police department gang unit and the santa cruz county anti-crime team yesterday. team members from the two groups were working in the area of ross avenue in watsonville, when officers spotted 26-year-old alvaro melendrez and recognized him as being wanted by state parole. after a brief foot chase, melendrez was subdued by use of a tazer. he was ARRESTED on suspicion of being a felon in POSSESSION of a loaded firearm, a parole violation and a gang enhancement.
the law enforcement officers were working in a collaborative effort on a newly formed robbery apprehension team in the city of watsonville.
