LOS ANGELES (AP) An injunction has been put in place targeting
one of the city's oldest street gangs, Police Chief William Bratton
and other city officials announced Wednesday.
The preliminary injunction against the 38th Street Gang, which
dates back to the 1920s, was approved last week by Superior Court
Judge David Yaffe.
The gang has about 350 members who are known for drug dealing,
street muggings, extortion of local businesses and an auto theft
ring, officials said.
The injunction bans some named individuals from the Alameda Swap
Meet without the owner's written permission and from having replica
guns that allegedly have been used to terrorize residents.
``The 38th Street gang is destroying the legitimate businesses
here at the swap meet,'' City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said. ``Now
is the time for our city to stand up to the 38th Street gang.''
A 3.87-square-mile area in South Los Angeles was set up as a
``safety zone'' by the injunction. It also bans known 38th Street
Gang members from associating with each other in public, imposes a
10 p.m. curfew, bars the intimidation of residents in the ``safety
zone'' and orders gang members to stay away from drugs, alcohol,
graffiti materials and weapons.
There are 23 active gang injunctions in the city.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)