A neighborhood that has been terrorized by a violent gang war may be able to let its guard down.
Law enforcement sources tell Eyewitness News that police have charged 15 "Get Money Gang" members. Nine of them have been arrested and six remain at-large, all responsible for crime in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood.
For the past six months, IMPD, along with state and federal authorities, have been working to put an end to the violent crime in Butler-Tarkington. They say the "Gett Money Gang" is responsible.
The gang operates on the north side of Indianapolis in two main locations — Creekwood Apartments near West 71st Street and North Michigan Road, and 6470 Scenic Court.
IMPD, the FBI, prosecutors and the mayor shared details of the arrests at a news conference Thursday morning, touting the work of the "Safe Streets Taskforce."
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett called the investigation a "collaborative" effort.
"The dial is not going to be moved overnight," he said.
IMPD Chief Troy Riggs agreed.
"I've never seen this type of collaboration in the history of my 26 years in law enforcement and it continues to grow every day," Riggs said.
The 15 members face charges, including, but not limited to, dealing marijuana, corrupt business influence and criminal gang activity.
The nine arrested include: Rashaan Bangman, 20; Charles Davis, 20; David Gibbs, 22; Deion Orr, 22; Ryan Pedtke, 29: Casey Pugh, 39; Micah Smith, 23; Landon Thompkins, 20; Daitwon Williams, 20.
The six still wanted include: Robert Carey, 19; Tarell Davis, 22; Jaylen Grice, 22; Hayes Hall, 24; Deshalon Jackson, 20; Robert Starks, 25.
If convicted, the men face potentially lengthy prison terms. Whatever sentence is determined will be doubled, since they're accused of being members of a criminal street gang.
YouTube videos
Police used rap videos posted on YouTube as evidence in the criminal investigation of the Gett Money Gang. One song called "Go 2 War" included these lyrics: "The street's talkin' 'bout GMG that's how I know that we made it," and "On the back streets we terrorize and run around."
In the videos, alleged gang members show off weapons and threaten revenge. According to police, these weren't empty threats. The same people in the videos are either now under arrest, several captured in the last few days, or are wanted by police for a laundry list of crimes.
"This is really positive news for the neighborhood. It was a rough summer and fall," said Ted Feeney, a member of the Butler-Tarkington HOA.
Butler-Tarkington was ground zero. In September, 10 year-old DeShaun Swanson was shot to death, apparently the unintended target of a gang fight. A rash of violence including four homicides terrorized the neighborhood.
"We will not go quietly into the night," said Hogsett, "We will not be prisoners of our fears, we will not allow these drug pushers, these gun slingers, these violent, vicious criminals to harm our city."
The group was also connected to the shooting of five people on the downtown canal in 2012. And in 2014, alleged gang member Landon Tompkins was accused of shooting cab driver Ricardo White. Police encourage the public to speak up about gang activity in their own neighborhoods.
"If you don't talk to the police, one thing is for certain, the criminal element will continue to grow and your family's and your life will be in danger if you live in these areas," said Riggs.
"For several years, the defendants charged in this case have terrorized citizens in Butler-Tarkington and other neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis," Riggs said. "These arrests show our resolve to work with our local, state, and federal partners to reduce crime throughout our city. You will continue to see long-term operations to address systemic issues, which lead to violent crime and a degradation of quality of life within our neighborhoods."
The recent six-month-long investigation resulted in a total of 26 arrests, 17 guns seized, 5.96 grams of cocaine seized, 26.18 pounds of marijuana seized, and $32,636.00.
Neighborhood reaction
The news of arrests is comforting to neighbors.
Emily Johnson wants to concentrate on taking care of her childhood home. She moved back to Butler-Tarkington after spending years out of state, back to a neighborhood she didn't recognize.
"To hear a lot of what's gone on in the last year or whatever, it's scary, it's frightening and it's just sad," said Johnson.
At least four homicides last summer and fall, including the murder 10-year-old Deshawn Swanson. He wasn't the target, but was caught in the crossfire of gang warfare.
"It's sad," said Johnson, "because Butler-Tarkington has always been a good neighborhood to live in, a safe neighborhood to live in, we're proud of our neighborhood and things like that."
The violence had Sarah Beth Skidmore, a resident and realtor, fearing for her safety in the neighborhood she loves.
"We had gotten to the point where we weren't for sure we wanted to live here anymore," Skidmore said.
But she's watched things change.
A neighborhood in crisis has been fighting back, with the help of residents, police and community volunteers.
"It means that I can go running through my own neighborhood and not feel nervous at any time," Skidmore said.
Investigation
Sources say the police investigation into the gang started after a fight at the Indiana State Fairgrounds last October.
"I'm glad about that," said Johnson. "You can't go outside and enjoy your life, you can't go outside and enjoy your house, you can't go outside and enjoy your yard because you're afraid of what might happen."
"Hopefully it'll put a big dent in the gang activity and they won't come back to this area," Skidmore said.
It's also encouraging news to Wallace Nash, a community member-turned crime fighter in Butler-Tarkington.
"I hope that the arrests mean we'll be safe," Nash said.
Trained by the Ten-Point Coalition, Nash and other volunteers have been patrolling the streets of Butler-Tarkington for nearly three months. The neighborhood has now gone 189 days without a homicide.
"It's awful quiet over here," Nash said. "It's making a big difference. We're out here about the children. We're out here about stopping all this death."
He says the gang arrests are positive steps. But he also wants something done with those young people besides just locking them up.
"Kids in this neighborhood need things to do and for the young people arrested? If they do return or come back to society, we must make sure they'll be armed with stuff so that they'll be able to function and not have to keep getting in trouble and keep returning to jail," Nash said.
"If we can begin to work on it from the front end and change it from there, we don't have to worry about the back end as much," explained Pastor Anthony Beverly, who heads the group Stop the Violence. He says poverty, lack of schooling and role models all play into gang activity.
"I'm not saying that that is a reason for them to go commit crime, but when you don't have an education, and you don't know any other way to survive, then you do to what you know," he said.
