'Operation Tornado Alley' takes down 4 violent criminal organizations in Baltimore

Video Player is loading.

Current Time 0:00

Duration 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream Type LIVE

Remaining Time 0:00

EXPLAINS HOW THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN. INVESTIGATORS TELL 11 NEWS 38 PEOPLE ARE CHARGED, INCLUDING 12 REPEAT OFFENDERS. THESE ARE GUNS AND DRUGS SEIZED DURING A YEAR LONG INVESTIGATION. THE GOVERNOR DELIVERING THIS MESSAGE. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR TO EVERYBODY WHO WISHES TO DO HARM TO PEOPLE IN THIS STATE THAT THIS COLLABORATION, THIS PARTNERSHIP, IT WILL NOT STOP. AND YOUR DAY IS COMING. NEARLY 40 PEOPLE ARE ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN FOUR CRIME OPERATIONS IN SOUTHWEST BALTIMORE INVOLVING NARCOTICS AND FIREARMS. SOME ARE ALSO CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ARMED ROBBERY. WE’RE NOT CELEBRATING. WE’RE RECOGNIZING PROGRESS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. THIS INVESTIGATION, CALLED OPERATION TORNADO ALLEY, FOCUSED ON PRATT STREET, LEMON STREET, MILLINGTON AVENUE AND EDMONDSON AVENUE. IT INCLUDED 24 HOUR SURVEILLANCE AND A WIRETAP. BALTIMORE CITY POLICE SAY INITIALLY, THIS ALL STARTED WITH DETECTIVES LOOKING INTO A VIOLENT GANG AS PART OF THE CITY’S GROUP VIOLENCE REDUCTION STRATEGY. THE INVESTIGATION EXPANDED WITH HELP FROM FEDERAL AGENTS. BALTIMORE COUNTY AND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE. YES, WE WANT TO CONTINUE. OUR HOPE IS TO DEFINITELY CONTINUE THESE TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS AND NOT EVEN OUR HOPE WE WILL BE CONTINUING IT. NOT ONLY THE RAIDS THAT WE DID LAST WEEK AT FOUR IN THE MORNING, WHICH WE HIT 15 HOUSES AT FOUR IN THE MORNING, BUT ALL DURING THE WIRE, THEY WERE PICKING THINGS UP THAT WE HAD TO TAKE CRIMINALS OFF THE STREET BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO DO VIOLENCE TO SOMEONE ELSE. THE SUSPECTS RANGE IN AGE FROM 16 TO 61. POLICE SAY THEY CONFISCATED NEARLY 65 WEAPONS. THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES THINKS THE GUNS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 47 INCIDENTS. ALSO FOUND MACHINE GUN CONVERSION DEVICES, CONVERSION DEVICES CAN CONVERT SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOLS AND RIFLES INTO FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS IN LESS THAN 60S. ONE PULL OF THE TRIGGER CAN RELEASE ALL THE AMMUNITION IN THE MAGAZINE. AND POLICE TELL US THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. REPORTING FROM DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE BARR

'Operation Tornado Alley' takes down 4 violent criminal organizations in Baltimore

Officials announce the takedown of four violent criminal organizations in Baltimore.Roughly 40 people were arrested as part of Operation Tornado Alley in southwest Baltimore on various drug trafficking and gun offenses. Baltimore City police said at first they were focused on a violent gang, but federal agents joined in as the investigation expanded."I want to be very clear to everybody who wishes to do harm in this state -- this partnership will not stop, and your day is coming," Gov. Wes Moore said.Some of the people who were arrested are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, according to police."If you make the choice to engage in these activities associated with crime and violence, there will be swift and certain consequences for your actions," said Mayor Brandon Scott.While intervention is offered to those who want to walk away from a life of crime, those who don't will be arrested and charged, Scott said.Video below: Officials announce "Operation Tornado Alley" arrests"We are not celebrating," Scott said. "We are recognizing progress and understanding we have a lot more work to do."The investigation focused on Pratt Street, Lemmon Street, Millington Avenue and Edmondson Avenue -- and included 24-hour surveillance and a wiretap.Police said initially, the investigation started with detectives looking into a violent gang as part of the city's Group Violence Reduction Strategy.The investigation expanded with help from federal agents, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County police."Our hope is to definitely continue these types of investigations," said Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates. "We will be continuing it.""Not only the raids we did last week at 4 a.m., which we hit 15 houses at 4 a.m., but all during the wire, they were picking things up that we had to take criminals off the street because they were going to do violence to someone else," said Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley.

BALTIMORE —

Officials announce the takedown of four violent criminal organizations in Baltimore.

Roughly 40 people were arrested as part of Operation Tornado Alley in southwest Baltimore on various drug trafficking and gun offenses.

Baltimore City police said at first they were focused on a violent gang, but federal agents joined in as the investigation expanded.

"I want to be very clear to everybody who wishes to do harm in this state -- this partnership will not stop, and your day is coming," Gov. Wes Moore said.

Some of the people who were arrested are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, according to police.

"If you make the choice to engage in these activities associated with crime and violence, there will be swift and certain consequences for your actions," said Mayor Brandon Scott.

While intervention is offered to those who want to walk away from a life of crime, those who don't will be arrested and charged, Scott said.

Video below: Officials announce "Operation Tornado Alley" arrests

Video Player is loading.

Current Time 0:00

Duration 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream Type LIVE

Remaining Time 0:00

"We are not celebrating," Scott said. "We are recognizing progress and understanding we have a lot more work to do."

The investigation focused on Pratt Street, Lemmon Street, Millington Avenue and Edmondson Avenue -- and included 24-hour surveillance and a wiretap.

Police said initially, the investigation started with detectives looking into a violent gang as part of the city's Group Violence Reduction Strategy.

The investigation expanded with help from federal agents, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County police.

"Our hope is to definitely continue these types of investigations," said Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates. "We will be continuing it."

"Not only the raids we did last week at 4 a.m., which we hit 15 houses at 4 a.m., but all during the wire, they were picking things up that we had to take criminals off the street because they were going to do violence to someone else," said Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley.

WBAL-TV\Barry Simms

Slideshow

8 photos