Valley group reaches out to gang members to stop violence

 

 

PHOENIX – To some gang members, kids in south Phoenix are potential recruits. But to the people behind Project TRUCE, they are the future, and a catalyst for peace in a neighborhood riddled with gun violence.

“It’s probably one of the things that keeps me up at night, when you see a 4-year-old throw up a gang sign,” said Advisory Board Member Deborah Kidd Chapman, who teaches children from her neighborhood to follow a productive path.

“I learned a lot on those streets, and I learned a lot about what it means to make good choices in your life,” said Chapman. “When I was given a do-over, I said I would try to direct children to make positive choices in their lives.”

 

Valley group reaches out to gang members to stop violence

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Cop, 2 suspects die during drug raid shootout

 PHOENIX, Ariz. — At least one police officer and two suspects were killed Wednesday when a gunbattle erupted during an undercover drug operation in Phoenix, police said.

The shootout left two other officers wounded and two other suspects hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries, said Sgt. Steve Martos, a Phoenix police spokesman.

Two more suspects were detained and being questioned, Martos said. A seventh was being sought.

All three officers were from the Chandler Police Department. One was pronounced dead at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, authorities said. One of the wounded officers was in critical condition at the same hospital while the other was in stable condition.

The names of the officers were being withheld until their families were notified, authorities said.

via Cop, 2 suspects die during drug raid shootout – U.S. news – Crime & courts – msnbc.com.

Police and gangs anger south Phoenix residents

Clarence Harrington III and Anthony Harrington, 53-year-old brothers who are renovating a south Phoenix house, are split.

“We all want a place where we can feel at home,” said Clarence, who wants more uniformed officers on the street to deal with open drug sales and other problems. He added, “As a community, we need to address and deal with problems that perpetuate the problem, like substance abuse . . . and job training.”

But ongoing police crackdowns, Anthony said, mean that regular people are constantly pulled over or questioned by police when they aren’t doing anything wrong.

“The police know all the drug dealers, they know all of the hot spots,” said Anthony, during a break from yard work. “But instead, they make it hard on everyone. They could do it in a different way.”

For Jackson, the mistrust now means she’d rather avoid police altogether.

“Let me die,” Jackson said. “Don’t come to my house. That’s how bad it is. I don’t trust them at all.”

via Police and gangs anger south Phoenix residents.

Ex-NFL, Arizona State Sun Devils star J.D. Hill helps others

It came to a head in a drug house on Roeser Road in south Phoenix. His wife Caryl was on the phone with Battle, talking about getting him help.

Battle knew where to find Hill. He grabbed Hill by his arms and led him out.

“People had written him off,” Battle said. “Whenever he called, I’d go and get him.

“I said, ‘You know what, it’s not working for me.’ At some point in time, you’ve got to realize if you keep getting them, you’re enabling them. . . . The last time, I got to the point where I knew I wasn’t going to keep coming.”

Larry Kerychuk of Athletes International Ministry called Caryl to see if J.D. would be willing to enter the Los Angeles Dream Center. It became Hill’s home for a year. Hill is now one of the leaders of the Phoenix Dream Center.

via Ex-NFL, Arizona State Sun Devils star J.D. Hill helps others after own turnaround.

Cops & Color, Part 2 | Police Ridealong and Preventing Stereotypes

PHOENIX – We spent an evening with two Phoenix Police officers, as they patrolled the streets of south Phoenix.

In south Phoenix, if you are riding a bike you’re a drug dealer. Anywhere else, you’re just riding your bike. Wear a doorag, it’s a fashion statement. In south Phoenix, you’re a gang member.

Through our coverage of Phoenix Police and race issues, we’re trying to come to a better understanding of the stereotypes and tension officers and citizens both encounter.

via Cops & Color, Part 2 | Police Ridealong and Preventing Stereotypes.

Operation targeting gangs nets numerous arrests

by Michael Ferraresi – Feb. 6, 2010 12:00 AM

The Arizona Republic Authorities say gang investigators in the past week arrested 23 of 34 people accused of fueling a prominent street gang known as one of the more-violent groups in south Phoenix.

The arrests and indictments were announced Friday.

Police arrested 118 gang associates in addition to those indicted.

The operation targeted gang members and associates involved in drugs, prostitution and violence primarily in the area between 15th and Seventh avenues south of Buckeye Road, according to police.

South Mountain Precinct officers worked with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and other organizations after they noticed a spike in drug-related activity in the area.

“When you get down to the street-level guys like this, these are the ones terrorizing the neighborhoods,” said Phoenix Councilman Michael Johnson, a former police officer.

via Operation targeting gangs nets numerous arrests.

South Phoenix Gangs Disrupted by Operation Tri Dent

PHOENIX, AZ—The FBI Violent Street Gang Task Force and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced today, August 26, 2009, the execution of 14 search warrants and the indictment of over 100 gang members. In January 2007, top area law enforcement officials announced a new targeting strategy for attacking violent street gangs in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Today’s operation shows a continued effort to lessen gang related activity in our communities.

In January 2009, Operation Tri Dent was initiated targeting South Phoenix street gangs. The defendants indicted in this matter are charged with drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, aggravated robbery, and conspiracy. This operation is the sixth takedown by the Violent Street Gang Task Force over the last 2 ½ years which has culminated in the arrest of over 450 gang members from various gang affiliations. The FBI’s Violent Street Gang Task Force is comprised of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Mesa Police Department, Phoenix Police Department and the FBI. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided exceptional support to the Violent Street Gang Task Force in identifying certain aspects of drug trafficking by gang members.

In addition, today’s enforcement operation, arrest and search teams from ATF, Arizona Department of Corrections, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Buckeye Police Department, DEA, Glendale Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Mesa Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, and the USMS all contributed to this effort.

FBI Special Agent in Charge, Nathan Gray, Phoenix Division stated, “Gang activity in a community affects the quality of life of those who reside in that community. It is imperative for law enforcement to protect communities from violent gangs. The FBI’s Violent Street Gang Task Force has partnered with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to disrupt several South Phoenix gangs preying on its citizens. These efforts have and will continue to diminish gang related activity in the metro Phoenix area.”

full details at Federal Bureau of Investigation – The Phoenix Division: Press Release & South Phoenix Gangs Disrupted by Operation Tri Dent.

53 Arrests So Far in MCSO Crime Sweep

Updated: Sunday, 06 Sep 2009, 3:38 PM MDT

Published : Saturday, 05 Sep 2009, 10:21 PM MDT

PHOENIX – Sheriff Joe Arpaio is holding another of his 2-day crime sweeps, and so far, 53 people were arrested by day’s end on Saturday.

The suspects were arrested for various crimes ranging from drug possession and DUI to driving on a suspended license. Seven warrants were cleared, including one for child support. The other warrants consisted of issuing bad checks, probation violation, and vehicle theft.

About half of those arrested, 24 of them, are suspected to be illegal immigrants.

Sheriff’s deputies were pulling people over for traffic violations in south Phoenix Saturday night. One man was pulled over for driving without headlights — and deputies found that there was an outstanding warrant.

Phoenix city councilman Michael Nowakowski lives near where the crime sweeps were taking place.

“Doesn’t matter if you’re here legally or illegally, if you break the law, you should pay the consequences. But the problem is they’re pulling over individuals for broken lights and stuff like that, then asking for documentation, I think that’s wrong,” says Nowakowski.

full article here 53 Arrests So Far in MCSO Crime Sweep

Mother of kidnapped kids arrested, faces drug charges

This was all over the news this morning… kidnapping happened in East Phoenix, but the children were left about 2.5 miles away from my house.

Sandoval had alerted police to the kidnapping of her children, a 2-year-old boy and an 11-month-old girl, around 1:30 a.m. Sandoval said four armed men had forced their way into her home, in the 4100 block of North 28th Drive, and demanded money before reportedly taking the children, according to Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill.

Less than five hours later, the children were dropped off in the front yard of a “totally random” home near Central Avenue and Baseline Road, Hill said. The two residents living at the home heard screaming, opened the front door and found the children.

via Mother of kidnapped kids arrested, faces drug charges.