This originally appeared on wftv.com, read more
Orange County deputies arrest at least 50 gang members every month. Deputies said the violence is putting innocent people in danger.
Deputies were focusing on known gang members who were wanted for violent crimes like armed burglary and battery. Orange County deputies have seen an increase in gang activity on the county’s east side.
Resident Sheli Tharp said she has noticed it too.
“It’s like I have to watch my back every time I turn around I don’t feel safe,’ said Tharp.
Tharp lives in the Sutton Place apartment complex on University Boulevard where deputies said a female gang member known as “Queen” committed a home invasion last spring and shot a man who was lying face down in the back.
Last week deputies arrested her accomplice Christian Lopez, but Queen was on the run.
“It’s pretty scary. I can’t go out by myself and I want to cry about how scared I am,’ she said.
The sheriff’s office said there were more than 1,300 documented gang members and associates in Orange County and more than 100 of them were females.
“It does surprise me how violent they are getting,” said Lieutenant Victor Payne.
Payne is in charge of the gang unit and said he’s noticed a disturbing trend.
“The gang members are targeting the general population they are doing the carjacking. The robberies and they are doing the burglaries,” he said.
In the past the gang unit focused on crimes between gangs. Now a new imitative has them targeting gang members who have outstanding warrants.
Source: wftv.com
