[quote]
Despite these positive steps, Durham has a serious and substantial gang problem – a
problem evident in high-profile violent crimes, the rising official counts of gang members
and widespread public perception of gang prevalence. </p>
<p>• It is well established that Durham has gangs but there has been little agreement –
until recently – on exactly how many gang members are in the jurisdiction.
Recent counts put the cumulative total of verified gang members at just over
1,000 yet this can be misleading. Not all gang members are criminally active –
[quote]
"Gang activity and gang-related crime is absolutely on the rise in Raleigh as it is all over the nation," she said.
While more gang signs and graffiti are popping up more often in Raleigh, police say they want people to keep it in perspective.
"It is not an alarming rate, but we do see this emerging trend and we want to take steps to stop it in its tracks," said Sgt. Tim Sincock, of the Raleigh Police Department.
The department is asking for 23 new officers in next year's budget. Hiring the six members of the new gang unit would cost the city about $370,000.
Other areas of North Carolina are dealing with their share of gang problems. Durham is battling an estimated 36 active gangs. They have 28 officers dedicated to the task. In May, they installed a second gang unit. It helped in the arrest of 60 gang members during a 90-day trial.
<p>I hope that families of both Eve Carson and Lauren Burk can find some peace in knowing that their daughters are in a better place now. Both stories are so tragic and unfortunate. R.I.P<3</p>
<p>FilmGrad: Yes, really just so heartbreakingly sad. I don't think a minute goes by that I don't think about those two lovely girls, especially Eve. Really impossible to make any sense of it. I do hope that seeing and knowing how much she (they both) were well-loved and respected by so many, provides some level of comfort to their families.</p>
<p>Thank you, janie and mkm, fascinating (in a bad way) and very helpful information. Not forgetting Eve or Lauren in all this, although it is really hard for a parent to contemplate something so horrible. It has many of us really upset, because we can empathize though not fully comprehend it. It just never should have happened to anyone's daughter. 8_(</p>
<p>Thanks, ldmom. Sure looks like the same person to me who was in the earlier video footage at the ATM. Excellent work by the Durham police. This loser's life, for what it was ever worth, is now over.</p>
<p>The updated WRAL website now says that 2 people were escorted out of the Chapel Hill police dept (hoods covering their faces) around 11 this morning. Media have been swarming the police dept, so I think they'll have to hold a press conference soon.</p>
<p>Are police now saying they have TWO suspects....?</p>
<p>"Shortly before 11 a.m., police escorted two people with their heads covered from the Chapel Hill Police Department, put them in a car and drove away, WRAL's Amanda Lamb reports."</p>
<p>Have to wonder if these are suspects or people that were there to ID the suspect and they were protecting their identity???</p>
<p>Anyone in RDU area who can give us live updates please do so...</p>
<p>We just cross-posted, eadad. Yep, that's what it looks like.</p>
<p>Yes, that's a good point. These 2 folks may have ID'd the suspect that was brought in earlier. That video of him (the first guy brought in) definitely looks like the same person that was caught on the ATM video.</p>
<p>I'd try CNN. Or possibly YouTube, though I doubt YouTube has live coverage. I'm sure it will be on there later, though. The CNN affiliate is WTVD. Either one of those might have live web coverage.</p>
<p>wral just had a live report, they appear to be waiting for a conference outside chapel hill police, said this is someone's boyfriend who was asked to leave and not stay at the house on rosedale last night</p>
<p>wral stated that the people taken away in a crown victoria by undercover police were headed north "toward the county jail"--said they expect a news conference this afternoon depending on how the interrogation goes, which has been going on for several hours and presumably is continuing at chapel hill police station</p>