Jacksonville police take 46 gang members off the streets; 5 still on the run

Forty-six alleged dangerous gang members are now off local Jacksonville streets following a two-year investigation.

State leaders say this crackdown was vital.

“Jacksonville is safer because of this, and I know lives are spared and saved because of it,” said Melissa Nelson, the state attorney for Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit.

Five men allegedly linked to the Rolling 20s — a subsidiary gang of the Bloods -- are still on the run.

The sheriff says this bust helped dismantle a nationwide organization that reached from Jacksonville to California.

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole attended the press conference held by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and explains what we now know about gangs in Jacksonville and how the agency plans to move forward to keep our communities safe.

Sheriff Mike Williams said his team is actively tracking 51 criminal street gangs in Jacksonville.

Williams told Action News Jax a lot of them operate on the Northwest side of the city as well as the 103rd Street Corridor, but their crimes touch neighborhoods across northeast Florida.

"To all the men and women that made this happen, thank you and for the bad guys that are out there, we're still coming after you!”

This is the message the Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has for the five alleged gang members who remain at large.

The Jacksonville sheriff's office says it's been a two-year, two-phase investigation to bring them down.

They also partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of ATF on this investigation.

“The research revealed a structured organization involved in multiple violent crimes including murder, attempted murder, robbery, arson, narcotics trafficking, firearms trafficking as well as witness intimidation dating all the way back to May 2015,” said Sheriff Williams.

The Sheriff said an investigation into the death of a crime witness in April 2016  led them to investigate the gang.

Thirty guns, marijuana, cocaine and other drugs were seized.

Cole spoke to neighbors who live in the areas where gang activity occurs most.

"I feel real good about it. It used to worry me coming out of my house early in the morning before daylight, coming to work,” said Jacky Johnson.

He’s lived and worked in the area for the last 30 years.

"I'm feeling pretty good. I'm glad JSO is finally doing their job,” said Thomas Hall, who also lives in the 103rd  Streetcorridor area.

Sheriff Williams said they make arrests of gang members every single day and will continue to do cases like this.

“I think what you can see is a more targeted approach at gang activity. We've got a gang investigations unit since probably 2008. More emphasis, more technology directly directed at that type of activity,” Williams said.

While people who live in these gang-affected communities are glad these people are off the streets, they talked to Cole about what else they think could be done.

"It's a great thing that they did--get these gang members off the street, but it's just a little, teeny-tiny part of the pie,” said Robin Markel.

Markel told Action News Jax she also lives off 103rd Street.

“They need to get out there and get the people who are selling, dealing and putting these drugs on the street. That's where these gangs are starting from,” Markel said.

Hall said he’s glad the gang members are off the streets, but he isn't so sure jail is the answer.

"I don't see (that) putting them in jail is going to help them. I think they need to come up with some kind of program to let them know there's another life besides gang life,” Hall told Action News Jax.

While a rehabilitation program for alleged gang members was not discussed during Friday’s press conference — Sheriff Williams said they will continue with a targeted, technological approach at gang activity.

Cox Media Group