Kent Police and other law-enforcement agencies arrested 23 known gang members for outstanding warrants or probation violations, during an Oct. 24 crackdown from Federal Way to South Seattle.
The arrests included warrants for murder, narcotics violations, attempted robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and other charges, according to a Kent Police media release.
The crackdown focused on gang members with outstanding warrants as well as those under probation supervision by the Washington State Department of Corrections.
“This emphasis was the first of several coordinated efforts planned in this area to address criminal gang activity,” said Kent Police Chief Steve Strachan, in the media release. “We’re sending a strong message that law enforcement, corrections, and other agencies are working together.”
Agencies participating in the crackdown included Kent Police, the King County Sheriff’s Office, Des Moines Police, Federal Way Police, Port of Seattle Police, Seattle Police, Tukwila Police, King County Jail officials, the Washington State Department of Corrections, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
No specifics were available about how many gang members lived in Kent because of the mobility of the individuals, said Paul Petersen, spokesman for the Kent Police.
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