Dozens more arrests announced as part of California Highway Patrol sting operations

Dozens of people were arrested in recent weeks as part of California Highway Patrol sting operations throughout Oakland and the East Bay, the governor’s office announced Tuesday.

An additional 97 people have been arrested in the East Bay by highway patrol officers and local police on suspicion of a broad range of crimes, including motor vehicle theft, transportation of narcotics, felony gun possession and driving under the influence, according to a press release by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

The roundup comes on the heels of a five-day surge of law enforcement officers and operations across the East Bay that Newsom ordered in early February. The latest sting operations bring the total number of people arrested in Newsom’s campaign to 168, with 360 stolen vehicles recovered across the region, his office said.

In a statement, Newsom vowed to continue to “take decisive action to combat crime” in the region, saying that “through coordinated efforts like this, state and local law enforcement are disrupting criminal networks, apprehending dangerous individuals, and making our streets safer for all Californians.”