SAN ANTONIO- Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed is taking drastic measures to make an Eastside neighborhood plagued by gangs much safer. DA Susan Reed has filed a petition requesting a temporary restraining order and a temporary and permanent injunction that would keep 16 alleged "Bloods" gang members from hanging out with each other within the boundaries of a newly created safety zone.
The area is to be known as the “Wheatley Courts Safety Zone” and it runs from the Union Pacific railroad tracks south to east Commerce and from north New Braunfels to the tracks by the Freeman Coliseum.
The father of one man on the list welcomed the crackdown on crime and hopes the added pressure will help get his son on the right track.
Police stopped by John Ladeson's house to inform his son 22- year old Kajul Coleman that if he is caught associating with anyone on list; within the designated "Wheatley Courts Safety Zone" he will be arrested.
“I said the main thing to do for these kids around here is to get a job, that's what they need around here to get a job,” explained John Ladeson.
In fact, john said he had a firm talk with his son after the police visit and he sent him down to the nearest employment office to find a job.
Laden told his son,” Stay away from those people. You see the people's name's on this paper, stay away from them. I don't want them here; I don't want them around here”.
DA Reed announced in a press conference this morning that the men on the list have a history of using the "Wheatley Courts Safety Zone" as a place to store, hide, possess and sell illegal drugs.
“If officers see them out together they can stop them. It's giving them probable cause in order to investigate further and they usually find that they're up to no good,” said Reed.
If your neighborhood is plagued by violence and you're interested in it being designated a safety zone the DA suggest contacting the police department and asking for an officer assigned to your neighborhood
