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November 7, 2009

More than a dozen arrested in sting





By Mary Meaux

The News staff writer

More than 12 people were arrested after complaints from citizens about gang activity in Port Arthur.

Port Arthur Police Chief Mark Blanton said the recent arrests were the culmination of several weeks work.

A dozen people were arrested for immigration violations some of which had previously been deported, Blanton said.

Two people were arrested for possession of marijuana and four for outstanding warrants. A number of illegal weapons were recovered as well as cock fighting equipment, he added.

“The sting operation was in response to 20 different homes where we had received information about gang activity or had verified gang activity,” he said. “Immigration went with us which resulted in the arrest of 12 people for immigration violations. These are people who had had previous law enforcement incidents with.”

Blanton said the department does not have the manpower to hunt down immigration violators but if the violators bring attention to themselves by breaking the law we will arrest them.

A number of different agencies participated with PAPD including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Groves Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Office, Department of Pubic Safety and a representative of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The police chief said some of those arrested belonged to either the Norte 14 or Sur 13 street gangs. They were of various ages.

“These arrests represent information we received from the Hispanic community and there will be more arrests in the future,” he said.

Similar arrests were made prior to Thursday’s roundup, he said.

On Oct. 26, a man was arrested for possession of a prohibited weapon, brass knuckles, in the 3900 block of Memorial Boulevard. An ICE hold was placed on the man due to gang affiliation.

Another man in the same vehicle was arrested for failure to identify/giving false information. An ICE hold was also placed on this suspect in the 3400 block of Texas 87.

In mid-October, PAPD announced the implementation of a new partnership to help rid the streets of violent criminals and gang members.

Operation Time Machine pairs an assistant U.S. Attorney and a Jefferson County prosecutor cross-designated as a special assistant U.S. Attorney, and imbeds them with the Port Arthur Police Department. These Time Machine prosecutors will be positioned in Port Arthur to respond flexibly to the prosecutorial challenges presented by gun and drug related violent crime in Port Arthur.

The organizations sponsoring Operation Time Machine include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Mayor Deloris “Bobbie” Prince, Port Arthur Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

mmeaux@panews.com









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