More than 750 arrests have been made so far this year by the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force, authorities said.

Of its 759 arrests made through June 30, 359 were of known criminal street gang members who were suspected of felonies; an additional 75 reputed gang members were arrested for misdemeanor crimes, said Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department.

The task force also served 215 search warrants in 181 days during which 149 guns were recovered, including 16 illegal assault rifles, the department reported.

Task force members conducted 699 probation searches and 551 parole searches this year as well, the sergeant said.

"We have put gangs operating in Riverside County on notice," Sheriff Bob Doyle stated in a news release. "We are going to use all legal means at our disposal to shut them down and put them behind bars."

The task force is composed of sheriff's deputies as well as officers from various city police departments and a number of state agencies.