Written by Texas-Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputies have swept across the county the past two weeks, arresting at least 45 gang members wanted on everything from minor charges to attempted murder. They do everything big in Texas and that includes locking up gang members by the dozens.
The operation sends a clear message to area gang members.
“They’re not going to rule Hidalgo County,” he said. “Law and order is.”
Dubbed “Operation Street Sweep,” the sheriff’s office effort primarily targeted the Tri-City Bombers and their hated rivals, the Texas Chicano Brotherhood. Law enforcement considers both organized criminal groups to be more dangerous than smaller street gangs operating in the area.
That, combined with an FBI-lead sting earlier this month that took out 13 high-ranking Bombers now under federal indictment, left local gang investigators concerned that the rival gangs might engage in retaliation, ,the sheriff said.
“In order to avoid any bloodshed — any drive-by shootings, anything like that — we targeted both of them,” he said.
Beyond the Bombers and the Chicanos, the 30 tactical patrol deputies and four supervisors assigned to the project also arrested members from nine other street gangs.
“We are committed to eliminating as much of this scourge as we can,” the sheriff said.
In all, sheriff’s deputies had located and arrested at least 45 gang members, as of Monday. At least another half dozen members are being targeted in other areas across Texas.
Most of those arrested during the first two weeks of “Street Sweep” had active warrants for prior crimes. Deputies made other arrests when they found gang members with drugs while pursuing other suspects.
The operation will continue, with 326 other gang members with arrest warrants still on the run, the sheriff said.
As per sheriff trevino “this is not a dog and pony show”…well obviously it is…the way an ex gang member was arrested 4 theft (minor) in his own home infront of his children held at gun point approach by us marshall swat deputies (about 20 officers) he aint no fbi most wanted….theres been raids in the neighboorhood & not many law enforcement officers show up….it was uncalled 4….2 many law enforcement officers 4 a warrant of theft 4 1 individual…if investigators would do their investigation they would know he isnt gang affiliant 4 over a decade…his residence is not gang affiliadate…he was hunt down as if he was some murder @ his inlaws which he has no record of ever putin their residence as his own….all they did was scare the elderly & disabled what a shame…such a scandal 4 a warrant 4 theft (minor charge a misdemeanor)….4 all those who comment on these gang members get ur 411 B4 commenting not all these members are what u think they are….some out there have changed their lifes around…