Sixth Top-10 Gang Member Arrested

Los Angeles: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William Bratton announced the capture of 18-year-old Soperry Chea, also known as “Baby Face,” who was listed as one of LAPD’s most wanted gang members. Chea is the six most-wanted gang member captured since the list was created February 8, 2007.

“Chea’s capture is significant for two reasons,” said Chief Bratton. “First, he was arrested locally, by LAPD officers, and second, it demonstrates that this particular gang initiative is working.”

On March 26, 2008, officers developed information that Chea, a wanted Top-10 gang member was in the area of 14000 block of Valerio Street in the Van Nuys Area. Uniformed officers from the Van Nuys Station converged on the apartment complex.

Approximately three hours later, officers recognized Chea after he was seen entering a vehicle. Chea was stopped and taken into custody. Inside the vehicle, was a handgun which, was recovered by the officers.

Chea was placed on the most-wanted list for a murder that occurred back on April 17, 2005, during which he stabbed an unarmed man to death while pinning him to the ground. After committing the murder, Chea through the knife over a fence which, was later recovered by police.