New Town community reacts to gang arrests

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it has taken down a gang based in the New Town area of Jacksonville.

On Friday, Sheriff John Rutherford announced the arrest of 23 alleged gang members in Operation Dead End. He said they belong to the Pakastan Yulee Clique, also called PYC.

New Town residents said they hope it will mean a safer community.

“Tired of all of the violence,” one mom told Action News while her children played at a park in New Town.

During the operation investigators said they seized handguns, an assault rifle and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of drugs. Altogether the suspects are facing 63 felony charges including armed burglary, aggravated battery and drug charges.

Rutherford said the drug supplier was based in California and were being brought to Jacksonville in a mini-van.

“With four adults and three children under the age of 10,” said Rutherford. “They were traveling and trying to present the appearance of a family.”

Rutherford said the children are now in the care of the Department of Children and Families.

According to JSO, the gang was working off the dead-end Junior Street in New Town, steps from an elementary school.

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Action News contacted Duval County Public Schools for comment, but is still waiting on a response.

The street is also close to Edward Waters College, home to the office for the New Town Success Zone. According to the program’s website, it is “a partnership of public and private organizations that are developing a continuum of services to help children and their families living in the New Town neighborhood.”

Dr. Irvin Cohen is executive director of the New Town Success Zone.

“Today represents a significant day in terms of the New Town Success Zone being a community in which people desire to live,” said Cohen. “No one, despite their economic or social condition, wants to live in a community plagued by drugs and violence and the work done by JSO and the other law enforcement officials today says they agree with us.”

Rutherford said some of the suspects are also being charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which could mean an additional 30 years added to their criminal sentence.

“They need to be off the streets,” the local mother told Action News.

Rutherford said the operation was a success, but he admits there is still much work to be done in Jacksonville.

“We know we’ve got 46 other named gangs in the community” he said.

Operation Dead End was a partnership with the FBI, State Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Police also worked with agencies in California.

Two men are also still wanted in connection with Operation Dead End.

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