HCSO INITIATIVE NETS MORE THAN 120 TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
AND OVER A DOZEN ARRESTS

HOUSTON – Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) conducted an anti-Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and gang initiative in north Harris County this weekend, resulting in 16 arrests and more than 120 traffic violations.

The initiative, conducted by the HCSO Reserve Command and Gang Unit, targeted the area in and around a popular flea market on Airline and West Gulf Bank Road.

“This area is very active when it comes to the sale of narcotics, public intoxication, and gang activity,” said Chief Kevin Maples who headed the operation.

During the day-long targeted enforcement, HCSO deputies identified more than 50 gang members belonging to seven different gangs, and arrested four individuals for DWI, all of which were 2 ½ times over the legal alcohol limit.

“That’s a very high concentration of gang members in any one given area,” said Chief Maples. “This is a place where a lot of families come to on the weekend, so we’re just trying to make sure the environment here is safe for them to continue to do so,” he added.

Other results are as follows:

·       62 traffic citations with a total of 125 traffic violations

·       1 felony forgery of a government document

·       6 possession of marijuana or a controlled substance

·       2 driving while license is suspended

·       3 warrant arrests

·       2 alcohol beverage code violations

Deputies also confiscated a weapon used in a drive-by shooting earlier in the area.

HCSO deputies will be conducting similar unannounced operations throughout Harris County.

Video of the initiative, with sound bites in English and Spanish, can be found on the HCSO’s YouTube channel at HCSO YouTube.