Coalinga Police Department
Press Release
August 7 – 9:29 AM
“Gang Members Arrested for Possession of Loaded Firearms”
On Tuesday, August 6, 2019, at approximately 11:31 pm, Coalinga Police Officers contacted 21-year-old Arturo Padilla, 19-year-old Dillon Derickson and 18-year-old Wendy Wilson, in a parked vehicle in the 200 block of East Elm Avenue. All three are residents of Coalinga and are known members and associates of the Bulldog Criminal Street gang. In addition, Padilla is on active probation in Fresno County for a previous narcotics conviction. His probation terms include that he is subject to search by law enforcement.
During the contact, Officers conducted a pat down search of the three subjects. During the search, Officers found a fully loaded .38 caliber revolver in Derickson’s front pocket. Padilla was found to have various controlled prescription medications without a prescription, and various jewelry items. In addition, officers also located a fully loaded semi-automatic Smith and Wesson firearm on the floorboard directly in front of Padilla.
Derickson, Padilla and Wilson were taken into custody on various charges, including possession of loaded firearm by a gang member, participating in a criminal street gang, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and obstructing a peace officer.
Officers are working to identify if the recovered firearms and jewelry are stolen and possibly linked to prior cases in Coalinga and other jurisdictions.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Coalinga Police Department’s Public Safety Dispatch Center at (559) 935-1525.
“All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law”
