NIAGARA FALLS —
Niagara Falls police threw down the gauntlet to the city’s feuding street gangs on Friday, announcing they will beef up the Roving Anti-Crime Unit and begin charging city “ganstas” with federal crimes that carry stiff prison terms.
A day after members of the department’s Emergency Response Team walked the 19th Street corridor, police brass said they were ready to push back against a violent turf war that has led to reports of close to 50 incidents of gunfire on city streets in the past three and a half months.
“The city of Niagara Falls has experienced an increase in gun violence since December,” Falls Police Superintendent John Chella said. “We believe this is all connected to gang activity.”
Chella, flanked by a long line of local, state and federal law enforcement officials and prosecutors, said four arrests made this week have targeted the hierarchy of two of the most violent gangs.
Cecil Mulkey, 19, and James Ashley, 21, identified as leaders of the 8th Street Boyz gang were arrested on federal drug and weapons charges. Aarmon “Murda Mook” Askew, 21, a top member and enforcer of the X.Y.I.D. Bloods set was also picked up on federal drug and weapons charges.
A third 8th Street Boyz member, Howard Welch, 18, was arrested and charged in connection with a Saturday morning shoot-out in the 3000 block of Pine Avenue.
The 8th Street Boyz, who are affiliated with the notorious Crips street gang, and the local Bloods set are believed to be locked in a battle over the city’s lucrative pot trade.
“We are developing more information each day and I expect more arrests,” the police superintendent said.
Chella also announced that police will increase their presence on the city’s streets by increasing the number of officers assigned to the RAC Unit and joining forces with the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, the New York State Police, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and state and county parole and probation officers.
“We will work with our partners in law enforcement,” Chella said. “We are going to get this under control. Those who don’t want to abide by society’s rules will pay a steep price.”
The new RAC officers will work in plainclothes and unmarked cars and will be on the streets at varying times of the day and week.
Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour said he had instructed his patrol deputies working in the towns of Niagara and Wheatfield to be prepared to respond to trouble in the Falls if necessary.
“We’re close by and ready to do what we need to do to help,” Voutour said.
Chella said uniformed police patrols are also likely to be increased and he said Mayor Paul Dyster had approved the use of additional overtime money to pay for added cops on the streets.
“We want to make sure our posse is bigger (than the street gangs),” Dyster said.
The mayor also asked for help from parents and the community.
“Don’t let your kid make the bad guy’s posse bigger,” the mayor said. “Keep your kids from being part of the problem.”
The newly sworn-in United State Attorney for the Western District of New York, William Hochul, said his prosecutors were ready to join in the gang fight by using federal racketeering laws and tough sentencing guidelines. He pointed to the break-up of violent street gangs in Buffalo over the last 20 years as the model for what can be done in the Falls.
“The beginning of the end of street violence in the Falls has begun,” Hochul said.
Niagara County District Attorney Michael Violante said gang members charged with state crimes can expect a tough time in court.
“They want attention,” Violante said, “Well, they will get all the attention we can give them in prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Chella said the increased patrol activity has already started.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Niagara Falls Police Detective Shawn Bosi bends down to pet 'Jackie' a four month old beagle mix that belongs to Kayla Fernandes, of Niagara Falls. Bosi and officer Michael Corcoran patrol Pine Avenue near 30th Street. Fernandes said she feels safer with the officers in the area. DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
NIAGARA FALLS: City joins forces with agencies in war against street gangs
- Local News
-
-
Long-range forecast favors ‘liquid’ over ‘icy’ precipitation
The climate trend that’s emerged this winter — brief spells of cold and minimal snow cover, broken up quickly by warmth and rain — apparently will hold into spring.
-
SLIDESHOW: Niagara Charter School
Niagara Charter School opened with an initial enrollment of 264 students in grades kindergarten through fourth. The school has added fifth and sixth grade students since then and this year has an enrollment of about 350 students. This year, staff members are preparing to prove to the State Education Department that it made the right choice in allowing them to open the doors back in 2006.
-
Village of Lewiston officials investigating parking as crowds loom on horizon
Parking in the Village of Lewiston is a major concern, especially when festival and concert season rolls around. Fixing it is a different matter all together, however.
Mayor Terry Collesano says the village board is investigating several small changes to parking which could provide better access once the people begin rolling in. -
CITY BEAT: Can you hear us now Congress?
Feeling down? Depressed? Upset because another football season has ended?
Confused because people actually watch things like “The Bachelor” or “The Voice?” -
Woman reportedly swept over Horseshoe Falls
Niagara Regional Police cruisers swarmed Table Rock just past 4 p.m. Sunday after getting reports of a woman going over the Horseshoe Falls.
-
Sheriff’s office closing in on Rocky’s successor
Friends of Deputy Craig Beiter of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office are planning a benefit on Feb. 26 to raise money to buy and train a new dog for the K-9 Unit.
Beiter’s German shepherd, Deputy Rocky, was killed while on duty in January, and the sheriff’s office is close to getting a replacement. -
Robber runs into wrong clerk in Wheatfield
Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a River Road convenience store Saturday night for an attempted robbery.
-
A big test for Niagara Charter School
The first official day of classes at the Niagara Charter School is a day Pastor Jesse Scott will never forget.
-
Time Warner, MSG fight could last through the end of the NBA, NHL regular seasons
As the glow fades from the Giants’ Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks’ overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking “Lin-sanity.”
-
NIMAC gets boost from Legislature
The Legislature approved giving $40,000 on Tuesday to the Niagara Military Affairs Council (NIMAC) to assist its ongoing effort to keep the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station open and active in defense work.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
