Phoenix police arrested three members of an Ahwatukee street gang in connection with an aggravated assault that left a man with a ruptured ear drum. Cops believe the gangbangers have committed armed robberies and other crimes.
What's the name of this suburban gang, which -- judging by the suspect pictures -- is an equal opportunity employer? Police won't say.At the end of his news release, (below), Sergeant Andy Hill, police spokesman, says police don't give out that information "so as not to give them, what they consider to be, 'status' by having their gang name or nickname mentioned to the public." That may be true, but it also lessens the chance that an Ahwatukee parent who comes across the name on their kid's notebook would know what it means.
All:
Phoenix Police Department Gang Enforcement Unit investigators report the following:
Suspect 1: Foss, Dwayne James; w/m; 19 years old (booked)P 545868
Suspect 2: Castle, Miles; b/m; DOB 18 years old (booked) P 545869
Suspect 3: Anhalt, Travis; b/m; DOB 18 years old (booked)P 545875
Over the past several months, officers who work in the Ahwatukee area of South Mountain Precinct noticed an increase in property crimes to include theft, criminal damage (graffiti), residential burglary and burglary from vehicle. Officers also noticed that the above incidents repeatedly involved individuals claiming to be associated with a documented gang. Recently, officers developed information this gang may have escalated to the crimes of armed robbery and aggravated assault. Precinct officers were able to identify a number of these suspects.
On March 16th, 2009 the listed suspects assaulted a male victim at 32nd Street and Frye Road. They beat him, rupturing his ear drum. The Phoenix Police Department Gang Enforcement Unit was assigned the case and brought in one of the precinct officers to assist with the investigation. A number of suspects were documented as gang members and probable cause was developed for the arrest of Dwayne Foss, Miles Castle, Travis Anhalt, and two juvenile males for their involvement in the March 16th aggravated assault case.
On May 21st 2009 a joint operation was conducted by the Phoenix Police Department's Special Assignments Unit, the Department of Public Safety's Swat Team and GIITEM, the Phoenix Police Department's Gang Enforcement Unit, and officers from the South Mountain Precinct. Three search warrants were served at the residences where several of the suspects were known to be living:
14600 block of S. 32nd Pl.
11025 S. 51st Pl. (apt)
16200 block of S. 40th Pl.
Gang indicia and other items of evidence were seized at all three locations. All the listed suspects were taken into custody without incident. Two juvenile suspects were also arrested. One of the juveniles was detained at JCC for a marijuana charge. Both juveniles had additional charges submitted for prosecution related to the aggravated assault case. Dwayne Foss, Miles Castle, and Travis Anhalt were booked into jail for Aggravated Assault (F4), Assisting in a Criminal Street Gang (F3) and Gang Threats (F3).
We do not release names of gangs or nicknames of gang members so as not to give them, what they consider to be, "status" by having their gang name or nickname mentioned to the public.
Thank you,
Andy
