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PROVO -- We reported Thursday on a gang fight in Provo that involved baseball bats and knives. The fight sent two people to the hospital. Police arrested two men and one of them has a long criminal history.
KSL found one of the suspects manages to keep getting out of jail, despite 27 arrests in less than three years. We have reported before on Saul Cristobal's arrests for violent gang activity, as well as the arrest of younger brother Luis. In both cases, the suspects have a history of re-offending within days of their release from jail on previous offenses.
Residents enjoying a park in Provo on Wednesday evening were startled to see gang members fighting with knives and baseball bats.
Capt. Cliff Argyle, with the Provo Police Department, said, "Once the blood appeared, both sides decided they'd had enough and started to flee."
Yesterday, detectives tracked down Lonny High and Saul Cristobal and arrested on them on suspicion of gang enhanced aggravated assault. Back in February of last year, KSL 5 reported on Cristobal's 25 arrests in just two years. He served jail time on numerous crimes until April 18th of this year.
Since his release, he has already been involved in a minor gang scuffle in Orem and allegedly in Wednesday's gang fight in Provo.
"It is frustrating that he keeps getting out of jail and committing new crimes," Argyle said.
Cristobal is now 20 years old.
In the past, judges have resisted sending him to prison because of his young age, but police say 14 months in the county jail didn't seem to rehabilitate him.
"He doesn't seem to want to change his ways, either contact with law enforcement, his probation officer or the court system, doesn't seem to be changing his behavior in any way," Argyle said.
Police fear Cristobal's crimes will only become more violent and innocent people could get hurt.
"Most of his crimes are crimes of violence, and one of these occasions it is going to be more than just superficial or non-life threatening injuries, I'm afraid it is going to be much worse," Argyle said.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman says he is equally frustrated and says his office will continue to be aggressive in prosecuting gang activity, including these new charges.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
