Police: Gang Member Planned To Firebomb OC Church
SANTA ANA (CBS) — An 18-year-old alleged gang member accused of trying to attack a Santa Ana church with a Molotov cocktail was behind bars Monday, police said.
Jose Alberto Neri was arrested about 7 p.m. Sunday as police responded to a call of a man with a gun on the 500 block of South Van Ness Avenue, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
"He was ranting and raving and carrying on so they called us," Bertagna said, adding Neri was high on methamphetamine and holding a bottle filled with lighter fluid, bullets and a towel as a wick.
"We got him in the alley when he was going to do this," Bertagna said of Neri's alleged plans to firebomb Iglesia Cristiana Principe de Paz.
Neri told police he would go into his room for "peace and quiet" and look in the mirror, but he noticed the church members from across the street were reflected in the mirror and "invading his privacy," Bertagna said.
"He said he wanted to put a stop to it," Bertagna said.
Neri was also arrested with a replica air-pistol type gun, Bertanga said.
Neri was arrested on suspicion of possession of a destructive device, possession of an explosive device in a public place, attempted arson of an inhabited structure, possession of a deadly weapon, possession of a switchblade knife, possession of a methamphetamine pipe, being under the influence of a controlled substance, participating in a street gang and committing a felony for a gang, Bertagna said.
Neri was being held in the Santa Ana jail, said Bertanga, who said he did not know the bail set for Neri.
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