6 Suspected Gang Members Arrested at Novato Motel

With the aid of a police canine unit, six suspected gang members were arrested Tuesday night in the parking lot of a Novato motel, police said.

A disturbance was reported outside the Days Inn at 10:20 p.m., and responding officers saw a vehicle with six people inside, Sgt. Dan Jenner said. They were contacted and determined to be members of a street gang or associates, he said.

Police dog Metz with handler officer Jeff Ames were called in and the dog detected narcotics inside the vehicle. A search was conducted and a firearm was found, Jenner said.

Those arrested were: 23-year-old Mark Velasquez, 20-year-old Christian Velasquez and a 15-year-old minor, all of Novato; 23-year-old Tatiana Jenkins and 18-year-old Jeffrey Diaz, both of San Rafael; and 18-year-old Jackson Calderon of Petaluma. They face a variety of gang-related and firearms charges.

Jenkins, who said she lived in Marin City when she was booked at Marin County Jail, faces the most charges — three felonies and three misdemeanors. 

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