Houston PD task force arrests 13 suspected gang members

Unread post by **Christina Marie** » April 5th, 2006, 11:52 am

HPD task force arrests 13 suspected gang members

Thirteen behind bars, but three still sought

By Andy Cerota

(4/05/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - Thirteen suspected gang members Houston police say were behind numerous violent crimes in the city are off the streets. Officers say while its nice to have these 13 people off the streets, there are many more who need to join them behind bars.

Police say three more suspects are all members of the same local gang. They call themselves the 59 bounty hunters and they are reportedly affiliated with the bloods.

This gang in particular operates on the southwest side of the city. The three suspects still at large -- two men and a woman -- are wanted for various violent crimes.

This investigation is centered specifically on this one gang. HPD's gang murder squad began investigating them back in September. Police are not characterizing this, though, as a gang war between Houston gangs and transplanted New Orleans gangs. Police say the violence is the result of something else.

"The underlying motive primarily seems to be narcotics and some disputes about that and territory over narcotics," explained HPD Sgt. Brian Harris.

The 13 suspects already behind bars were wanted for various violent crimes throughout the city.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=4056971