Thread: SC-Deputies target gang members, 19 arrests made

Deputies target gang members, 19 arrests made


Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright talks about Operation Community Shield-Spartanburg that took place this past weekend. Standing with the sheriff are Greg Sassi, center, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Chief Klay Peterson with USC Upstate.

By Lee Healy
lee.healy@shj.com


Published: Monday, March 22, 2010 at 11:46 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, March 22, 2010 at 11:46 a.m.
A weekend operation targeting known members of street gangs yielded 19 arrests, and more are anticipated.


Key Documents:Spartanburg arrest list (DOC - 1165kb)
Release from Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office (DOC - 315kb)
Operation Community Shield was a joint operation involving the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and officers from the State Law Enforcement Division, the University of South Carolina Upstate, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.

On Saturday, a total 40 law enforcement officers joined forces to help reduce gang activity in the Upstate.

Officers zeroed in on gang members with outstanding warrants. Fourteen of the 19 individuals arrested will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and sent out of the United States.

During the operation, six felony warrants and 11 misdemeanor warrants were served. Five criminal citations were issued. One stolen handgun was recovered. One handgun was seized, and one person was charged with possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs.

"It's very important to keep these gang members in check," said Sheriff Chuck Wright during a morning news conference. "We do realize we have a lot more work to do... We're going to make sure our community is as safe as we can make it."

Wright said similar operations have previously been conducted on a smaller scale, and said agencies will continue to work together to pull more gang members off the streets.


http://www.goupstate.com/article/201003 ... rests-made

They need more pf those in most states. South Florida is bad. I have gangs blocks away from me and heard the shots fired in a driveby shooting. A 17 year old female was killed just before Christmas. They have also shot at someone at the Wendy's parking lot which 2 blocks from me.