IMPD will not go ahead with gunshot detection system
PUBLIC SAFETY

35 arrested in massive police sweep

Hundreds of federal, state and local police agents swept Indianapolis on Wednesday in a raid on an Eastside gang.

Jill Disis and Tim Evans
Heavily armed offices wait after a raid in the 2900 block of Draper Street on Indianapolis' Southside on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Charlie Nye / The Star

Members of a violent drug gang that sold pounds of cocaine, heroin and marijuana on the Eastside for years operated with little worry about the consequences of their illegal activity.

Some members of the Block Burners were so brazen they posted pictures on social media sites depicting themselves with guns, drugs and stacks of cash from their illegal deeds.

And it was those Internet images that helped draw the attention of law enforcement authorities, who early Wednesday swept the city in an operation they say dismantled the gang and netted 35 arrests on a variety of state and federal charges.

Officers also confiscated more than 20 guns and $53,000 in suspected drug proceeds.

The simultaneous early-morning raids, dubbed "Operation Smoke Show," were carried out by more than 500 law-enforcement officers, including 19 SWAT teams, from the FBI, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police, Indiana State Police and other state and federal agencies.

The investigation, which culminated in the string of raids across Indianapolis, began in late 2014 in an effort to address violence in the city, officials said.

"With today's enforcement action, the leadership, hierarchy, members and support network of this violent gang have been decimated," said W. Jay Abbott, special agent in charge of the FBI in Indianapolis.

"The citizens of Indianapolis can be assured the streets are safer and the FBI remains vigilant to combat violent crime wherever it may be."

U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler praised the collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies committed to making a difference in some of the city's most dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhoods.

"Preventing violent crime and holding those accountable who choose to terrorize our community remains one of this office's top priorities," Minkler said.

Indianapolis Public Safety Director Troy Riggs called the gang take-down "a true beginning," but noted "there is much more work that needs to be done."

Officials said the FBI and IMPD began investigating a gang known as the Block Burners, which has about 90 members and operated in the area of East 42nd Street and North Post Road — an area public safety officials have noted as one of the most violent in the city.

Those arrested for federal conspiracy to distribute heroin or cocaine included: David Williams, 36; Fred Davidson, 32; Damon Smith (aka Dumm), 19; Dustin Murry, 28 (aka D-Rock); Scott Foor (aka White Boy), 34; Mark Nelson, 29; Donte York, 23; Darrell Stennis, 26; Aaron Garrett (aka Nanny), 22; Anthony Burgess, 22; Brandon Jordan (aka "B"), 27; and William Davenport, 25. Garrett, Jordan and Murry also face federal charges of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of drug-trafficking activity, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Kevin D. Kyner (aka Kevin Leslie), 32, faces federal narcotic and weapons charges, the U.S. Attorney said.

Others arrested for state narcotic and firearms charges included: Tremaine Tatum, 22; William Patterson, 39; Kevin Johnson, 27; Dominique Burton, 27; Khadijah Walker, 34; Craig Cooper, 18; Marcus Baxter, 26; and Tommie Jackson, 35, according to the release.

Police were still searching Wednesday afternoon for William "Jeezy" Brown, who was identified as one of the gang leaders.

Names of the others arrested were not immediately available Wednesday.

Officials said the majority of the gang's members were distributing pound-quantities of drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana, along with large quantities of prescription pain pills.

Wednesday's announcement marks the latest in a string of major criminal probes launched by federal, state and local agents over the past several years.

Federal officials and Indianapolis police in December 2012 broke up a drug-dealing network run by a Northside street gang called the Buddha Boyz. During that investigation, officials seized several pounds of marijuana, $75,000 worth of cocaine, 21 guns, 11 vehicles and prescription drugs.

In January 2014, IMPD announced the dismantling of a large drug-trafficking ring in the Butler-Tarkington area during a probe called "Operation Family Ties." Eleven of the people arrested during that investigation were eventually charged in federal court.

The Family Ties busts also led detectives in March to break up one of the largest drug operations ever seen in Indianapolis — a ring worth $4 million in cash and which led to the confiscation of 25 kilograms of cocaine, along with heroin, methamphetamine and 25 guns.

Law-enforcement agencies are increasingly turning to the Internet in their fight against crime.

In a 2012 LexisNexis survey, about 82 percent of local agencies, 71 percent of state agencies and 81 percent of federal agencies surveyed said they use social media to assist with investigations. About 16 percent of total respondents — 1,200 answered the survey — said they use social media daily.

A follow-up survey in 2014 yielded similar results: 81 percent of total respondents said they use social media as a tool in investigations, and 25 percent of them said they use social media daily.

Among online images from the Block Burners probe that prosecutors included in charging documents were photos of Stennis wielding two different guns at a shooting range. The photographs, posted on the Facebook page of Aaron Garrett, include one of Stennis holding a gun he describes as a "Glock 40." As a convicted felon, he is prohibiting from possessing a gun.

Another Facebook photo shows Garrett with a fan of cash in front of his face. He says in the description: "Been gettin money boy in you kno it."

Charging documents say the photo was posted in April, shortly after an undercover purchase of heroin from Garrett.

Officials said Wednesday that more arrests are expected. They could not say how big a dent the arrests would make in area crime, other than that they will.

"I think it would be hard to argue that removing these individuals from our neighborhoods will not improve the quality of life in our city," said IMPD officer Rafael Diaz.

The Asbury Park Press contributed to this story.

Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @ jdisis.