Nearly 300 people arrested throughout Fresno as part of 'Operation Safe Neighborhoods'

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Law enforcement officials in the Valley and throughout the state are taking action to protect Fresno residents through a new sting operation.

Tuesday morning, Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama announced the results of "Operation Safe Neighborhoods."

He says the two-week operation targeted street violence, illegal guns, criminal gangs, and other violent offenders.

Officials say 20-year-old Phatna Pich, a known gang member, was arrested during Operation Safe Neighborhoods in early May.

Balderrama says Pich was one of the suspects responsible for four separate shootings.

During that operation, Pich hid at a Central Fresno house while armed with a semi-automatic handgun and a high-capacity magazine.

After a nearly eight-hour stand-off, he was arrested after surrendering to officers.

"At any given time one of these incidents can turn into a high-profile critical incident and we have to be ready for that," Chief Balderrama.

Pich was just one of 279 arrests made during Operation Safe Neighborhoods.

The two-week-long, multi-agency operation targeted street violence, illegal guns, street gangs, and violent offenders like Pich.

"This is the best example of 21st-century policing that can be seen," Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said.

Of the 279 arrests, 139 were felonies and 58 were gang arrests.

There were 57 guns seized during the operation, including 15 privately manufactured weapons known as ghost guns.

"We are not anti-Second Amendment but we are anti-violent crime. We are anti-murder, we are anti-drive-by shootings and we believe that some of these guns are being used in robberies and shootings and other illegal activities," Balderrama said.

There have been 167 shootings so far this year. That's down 16% year over year.

The homicide rate is also down 54% -- a big change he attributes to consistent and proactive police work and collaboration.

Balderrama says that there were more than 150 people from local, state, and federal agencies all working together to make the streets safer.

For news updates, follow Brittany Jacob on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.