4 murder suspects, 16 others arrested in L.A.-Glendale gang sweep

Daily News Wire Services
Updated: 07/09/2009 09:00:45 PM PDT

Four murder suspects were among 20 gang members arrested Thursday as part of an investigation into a street gang in the Chevy Chase Park area of Los Angeles as well as the city of Glendale, according to the Los Angeles Police department.

Authorities served 21 search warrants and 19 arrest warrants as part of the seven-month, multi-agency gang and murder investigation.

In addition to the four murder suspects, four people were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder or firearm assaults and 12 for other drug or weapon violations, police said.

Prior to Thursday’s arrests, the Southern California Drug Task Force, made up of LAPD detectives, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Glendale detectives, arrested 20 other suspects for such offenses as assault with a firearm, weapon charges, drug offenses and probation or parole violations, police said.

Five suspects already in custody were expected to also be charged with murder.

The task force seized 58 firearms, 48 of which were in one location. Authorities also seized about three ounces of cocaine and methamphetamine and two pounds of marijuana, police said.

Five children were placed in child protective custody.

Representatives from the LAPD, Glendale Police Department, California Department of Corrections, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Southern California Drug Task Force served the search and arrest warrants.

In addition, the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, a gang/homicide group funded by the DEA, partnered with the Los Angeles City Attorney Office’s Project TOUGH (Taking Out Urban Gang Headquarters), which took control of two properties within the Chevy Chase Park area as nuisance properties.

“Improvements to remove blight are mandated for abated property and may include demolition,” police said.