District Attorney General Neal Pinkston filed a petition on Monday asking that two Chattanooga gangs, the Gangster Disciples and the Grape Street Crips, and their members be declared public nuisances.
General Pinkston is also "asking that injunctive relief be given to the law-abiding residents of East Lake by establishing a Safety Zone that covers most of their neighborhood."
If the petition is granted, validated members of the Gangster Disciples and the Grape Street Crips will be forbidden from the following activities within the Safety Zone:
· Associating with other gang members
· Intimidating others
· Possessing guns or other dangerous weapons
· Possessing graffiti tools
· Acting as a lookout
· Being with anyone who has illegal drugs
· Being near alcohol
· Forcibly recruiting
· Preventing a member from leaving the gang
In 2009, the Tennessee General Assembly amended the state’s nuisance statute to include criminal gangs. Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean was a member of the state house at that time and he sponsored the bill. In 2014, state Senator Bo Watson was the primary sponsor who pushed for passage of the Community Safety Act to enhance the original legislation. State Rep. Gerald McCormick sponsored the House version of the 2014 bill, with Rep. Mike Carter, Rep. Vince Dean, and Senator Todd Gardenhire of the local legislative delegation among the co-sponsors.
Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman has scheduled a hearing next Monday at 1:30 p.m. to allow the DA to offer proof in this matter. Officials said, "The state will present evidence of why East Lake residents should be protected from these gangs. At that time any of the defendants named in the petition can also appear before the judge to argue against being ruled a gang member and/or a public nuisance."
Senator Watson said, "I am very pleased to hear that the District Attorney’s office will be using provisions of the Community Safety Act in combating gang violence. Gang violence cannot be tolerated, or it will inevitably increase in frequency and level as we have experienced in Chattanooga.
“This law gives courts the authority to restrict gang activity in certain geographic locations, including our public parks. It also tightens standards in order to allow for more effective pursuit of a court injunction against a gang or its members. Basically, it gives law enforcement another tool in the toolbox for reducing gang violence and many crimes associated with it. This law has been proven to curb gang-related crimes in Memphis and Nashville and we believe it will make a difference in Chattanooga in making our streets safer.”