A Yucaipa man was arrested for assault after a Redlands Police surveillance camera operator witnessed an altercation in the alley behind a downtown bar early Friday morning.

Officers were dispatched to the alley in the 300 block of Orange Street shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5, after the surveillance camera operator in the department’s Dispatch Center spotted the altercation.

After interviewing witnesses and victims and reviewing the video, investigators determined that a documented gang member, Jamie Avila, 25, was chasing victims in the alley, armed with a knife and a novelty-type stun-gun. No one was injured.

Avila was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.

Redlands Police Chief Jim Bueermann praised the alert work of the surveillance camera operator who spotted the altercation, noting that his actions may have prevented a serious injury.

“One of the primary purposes of the surveillance cameras is in preventing crimes, allowing us to intercede in an incident before a more serious crime occurs,” said Bueermann. “In this instance, we witnessed the altercation as it began and were able to have officers on scene before it escalated. We ended up arresting a known gang member who was armed and probably prevented a serious injury or worse.”