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Federal and local officers swarmed the LeDroit Park neighborhood in D.C. taking down ten suspected members of a violent drug organization.
More than 200 metropolitan police officers and federal agents executed 11 search warrants along two blocks of W Street Northwest early Friday morning, come on the heels of an extensive investigation into the "LeDroit Park Crew".
Officers said the group may be tied to as many as 42 violent crimes city wide, including six homicides , numerous armed robberies and assaults with intent to kill.
Chief Cathy Lanier (web|news|bio) said Friday's arrests were a severe blow to the "LeDroit Park Crew" and that it "sends a clear message that they cannot terrorize innocent people without suffering the consequences."
Neighbors reacted, "You can stop it at one place, you turn around and it's somewhere else," said Sandra Leftwich. Darius Holloway said he's still going to be careful, "It may actually have an effect on it, but I'm still going to be cautious."
According to the multiple count grand jury indictments, four alleged members of the "LeDroit Park Crew" were arrested for selling cocaine and marijuana within feet of Gage Eckington Elementary and Howard University.
"We're in the library until about two in the morning walking down here. I usually feel safe but I mean, a lot of people don't and they move their cars earlier in the day," said Rhakhi Singh.
Just down the block from the raids is the LeDroit Park Market where the owner was recently so fed up with robberies at his store, he posted surveillance video of one attack on YouTube.
"The neighborhood is picking up, I'm glad to see that things are improving ," said Joseph Jones.
Of the ten people arrested, only eight are adults. Police say more arrests are on the way.
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