New Injunction Targets 13 Alleged Members Of ‘Blood’ Gang In NE

EL PASO — A gang injunction that targets 13 alleged members of the “Blood” gang will benefit residents of Northeast, according to the office of El Paso County Attorney Jos R. Rodrguez.

“By restricting the activities of these gang members, we expect to see a drop in criminal activity in Northeast El Paso,” said Rodriguez. “I would like to thank the El Paso Police Department for its support in getting this gang injunction implemented and for enforcing it.”

According to Rodriguez, the gang injunction will increase punishment for defendants who commit crimes within thetwo designated “safety zones.”

These include the”Triangle Safety Zone,”which begins at the intersection of Gateway North and Dyer andstretches toGateway Northto the West, Dyer Street tothe east, and Hondo Pass to the north.

It also includesthe “Patriot Safety Zone,” which encompasses Transmountain Drive to the South, Gateway Northto the west, McCombs Street tothe east, and Sean Haggerty Street to thenorth.

The new gang injunction forbids defendants from carrying out certain activities considered a public nuisance within the “safety zones,” Rodriguez said.

The activities include:

Associating, standing, sitting, walking, driving, bicycling, gathering, or appearing anywhere in public view or in the same vehicle with any other Defendant (there are exceptions). Consuming alcoholic beverages, at any time, on public property. Knowingly possessing indelible markers or pens, aerosol paint, or an etching or engraving device, which may be used to damage, deface, or mark private or public property. Spray painting or otherwise marking graffiti on any public place or private property. Confronting, intimidating, harassing, challenging, provoking, assaulting, and/or battering any individual inside the safety zones. Knowingly using, possessing, and or selling illegal drugs or narcotics. Remaining, walking, running, standing, driving, or riding about, in, or upon any public place within the safety zones between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (there are exceptions). Entering at anytime a public or private school or attending any school sponsored functions unless he is a student, works for the school, or is required to be there by a family attending school (Other exceptions apply). Getting within 50 feet of the property known as “La Chit Chat Lounge” (4808 Dyer), including the parking area.

According to Rodriguez, 14 other alleged members of the gang were under a civil injunction beginning in March 2009. Thatoriginal petition listed individuals who –according to police records — regularly associated to commit organized criminal activity, Rodriguez said. The activity includedaggravated assaults, burglaries, robberies, weapon offenses, and drug related transactions, Rodriguez added.

The eight defendants that have voluntarily accepted the terms of the injunction by signing agreements with the County Attorney’s Office are Eyitayo Araromi, who is under a two-year injunction; Olaniyi Araromi, who is under a two-year injunction; Hector Carachure, who is under afive-year injunction; Deshaun Jones, who is under a five-year injunction,Fernando Perches, who is under a five-year injunction; Markus Reed, who is under a two-year injunction; Darius Terrell Shannon, who is under a two-year injunction; and Stanley Simmons, who is under afive-year injunction.

Five additional individuals have been placed under the restrictions set forth by a 2-year injunction for failing to appear before the court in regards to the original injunction. They are Cyrus Jamal Arnold, Jacob Arreola, Teandrea Barnes, Travell Gomez, and Jackieray Charles Green.

Rodrguez also announcedWednesday that nine of the original defendants have been removed from the lawsuit due to different factors. They include Briant Berryman, Brittany Rene Butler, Kimberly Crawford, Stephanie Annette Cruz, Keshia Flanders, Janise Jones, Rogelio Lpez, Elgie Munn, and David Maurice Milner.

At this point, only petitions against five alleged members of the blood gang remain pending. These individuals are Omar Arreola, Phillip Bobby Berryman, Brian Christopher Hairston, Eric Antwan Stokes, and Daniel Odom, who hasnot been found.

The trial to determine the implementation of the injunction against these defendants was scheduled for Monday October 4, 2009, but has now been re-scheduled for March 8, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.