Columbus police announce progress in dismantling gang

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – With more than 20 recent convictions or indictments of members of what the Columbus Division of Police (CPD) described as the city's most violent gang, the division said progress is being made but a lot more work is left. 

“We want to see federal time or state time for each individual who creates fear in our community. What we want the criminals to fear is us coming after them," Asst. Chief LaShanna Potts said.

The stern message from Potts came at the beginning of a news conference Tuesday where the actions against BL-800 members were announced. Several years of work went into these convictions and indictments.

“These guys have been plaguing the community for a long time and we want them to know we’re working hard, and we’re not done. We’re going to keep coming after these guys," Det. Eric Clouse said.

Clouse said BL-800 is the most violent gang in the city. With about 250 members or associates, he also said it's the largest. Investigators saw a severe uptick in violent crime in the Wedgewood and Southpark apartments on the west side, according to CPD. They said they were able to quickly determine BL-800 was to blame. Clouse said it's unlike any gang he's dealt with in 20 years of work on the west side.

“They don't even have a flow of narcotics because the narcotics dealers aren't willing to deal with them because they’re so violent. They will actually rob the narcotics dealers. Therefore, they result to theft. Theft is their main income," he said.

All of those convicted were convicted of participating in a criminal gang along with other crimes. Clouse said they are likely involved in even more violent crime, but it was important to get them behind bars with these charges.

“We still know that guy is a violent offender even if we don't have a cooperating victim we know what he did, and so we wanted to put charges on these guys and make sure we get them off the streets," he said.

These convictions and indictments are of gang leaders, according to detectives. They said more indictments are likely in the coming weeks.

“We’re going to have several other indictments coming in the near future and they’re going to keep coming and coming and coming and we’re going to be here until this gang’s gone and I want to reassure everybody of that," Clouse said.