Post by star on Sept 15, 2005 14:47:10 GMT -5
More than 40 people arrested after 300 police officers conduct raids aimed at taking down Ardwick Blood Crew.
CURTIS RUSH
STAFF REPORTER THESTAR.COM
More than 300 Toronto police officers raided about 40 residences across the GTA this morning, taking down an organized gang called the Ardwick Blood Crew, police say.
An eight-month operation known as Project Flicker targeted a violent west end street gang they say is responsible for gun trafficking and attempted murder.
More than 1,000 charges have been laid and more than 40 arrested.
At a news conference this afternoon, deputy chief Tony Warr declared:
“It’s another great day for the good guys.”
He said police are now looking “for partners in the justice system to follow through” so that those who are found guilty are dealt with appropriately.
The project to dismantle this gang was described as similar to the undercover operations that targeted the Galloway Boys and Malvern Crew last year.
This operation brought down the Ardwick Blood Crew that was responsible for a swath of violent crimes in the Jane and Finch area, police said.
The warrants cover a wide range of alleged crimes: attempted murder, armed robberies, conspiracy to traffic in narcotics, firearms trafficking, criminal organization charges, and fraud.
Police said at the news conference that the gang was focused on trafficking in narcotics and the movement of weapons.
The takedown this morning was a joint effort of the Toronto, York Region, Peel Region Police and the weapons enforcement section of the OPP.
Raids were conducted in the north part of the city and west in Etobicoke.
Police won’t say how many suspects have been arrested because they were still processing the charges.
“This is another demonstration of Chief (Bill) Blair’s commitment to rid the neighbourhoods of gangsters and thugs,” Warr told reporters.
“We’ll dismantle these street gangs as we go. There is more to this process. We’ve now made it so that communities can take back their streets and by doing so, keep them safe.”
Of 55 slayings this year in Toronto, 37 have been by gunfire.
Story: www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1126778826788&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes
CURTIS RUSH
STAFF REPORTER THESTAR.COM
More than 300 Toronto police officers raided about 40 residences across the GTA this morning, taking down an organized gang called the Ardwick Blood Crew, police say.
An eight-month operation known as Project Flicker targeted a violent west end street gang they say is responsible for gun trafficking and attempted murder.
More than 1,000 charges have been laid and more than 40 arrested.
At a news conference this afternoon, deputy chief Tony Warr declared:
“It’s another great day for the good guys.”
He said police are now looking “for partners in the justice system to follow through” so that those who are found guilty are dealt with appropriately.
The project to dismantle this gang was described as similar to the undercover operations that targeted the Galloway Boys and Malvern Crew last year.
This operation brought down the Ardwick Blood Crew that was responsible for a swath of violent crimes in the Jane and Finch area, police said.
The warrants cover a wide range of alleged crimes: attempted murder, armed robberies, conspiracy to traffic in narcotics, firearms trafficking, criminal organization charges, and fraud.
Police said at the news conference that the gang was focused on trafficking in narcotics and the movement of weapons.
The takedown this morning was a joint effort of the Toronto, York Region, Peel Region Police and the weapons enforcement section of the OPP.
Raids were conducted in the north part of the city and west in Etobicoke.
Police won’t say how many suspects have been arrested because they were still processing the charges.
“This is another demonstration of Chief (Bill) Blair’s commitment to rid the neighbourhoods of gangsters and thugs,” Warr told reporters.
“We’ll dismantle these street gangs as we go. There is more to this process. We’ve now made it so that communities can take back their streets and by doing so, keep them safe.”
Of 55 slayings this year in Toronto, 37 have been by gunfire.
Story: www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1126778826788&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes