The Kansas City Police Department, along with its partners, conducted a city-wide sweep of violent crime. Their focus was on apprehending individuals with the most violent and active warrants, including five members of the notorious “256/356” gang.
Last week, a total of 38 individuals were apprehended. Major James Buck from the KCPD Special Investigations Division emphasized the importance of swiftly removing the individual with the outstanding warrant from the streets.
Among the 38 individuals included, five were identified as members of the notorious “256/356” gang, known for their highly active involvement in various criminal operations, as stated by Buck.
According to the spokesperson, this specific group has been under surveillance for the past few months. Coincidentally, several of their cases were resolved and settled around the same time. “They have been involved in various violent crimes such as shootings, robberies, and street robberies,” he explained. It is clear that this crew is responsible for a wide range of violent activities.
A coordinated effort involving multiple agencies resulted in a series of arrests across different areas of Kansas City. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals, FBI, IRS, state probation parole agents, and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, targeted individuals in the city, northland, south Kansas City, and even parts of Kansas.
KCPD has provided the following statistics so far:
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- 20 federal warrants cleared
- 28 state warrants cleared
- 21 city warrants cleared
- Five new federal charges being investigated
- Six new state charges being investigated
- Six new city charges issued
- Six handguns
- One rifle
- 4, 261 kilos of meth seized
- 13 fentanyl pills seized
- 249.45 grams of PCP seized
- One PCP cigarette seized
- $2,007.35 seized
“We immediately dispatch detectives and officers to track down these groups as soon as we detect any activity. It just happened that we had a fortunate coincidence where we were able to resolve a significant number of cases at once. These were not warrants that had been pending for months and months,” Buck explained.
Buck is unaware of the exact number of gang members present in the city as they tirelessly pursue individuals who are wanted for violent crimes and have active warrants.
He mentioned that the concept of gangs and groups has evolved, and they are no longer as formal and organized as they were previously perceived. The loyalties and affiliations of these entities can vary, making it difficult to determine an exact number.
Nathaniel Greer, a 20-year-old individual, has been apprehended for his involvement in a shooting incident that resulted in the injury of two individuals during a basketball game at North Kansas City High School in March. Additionally, two other individuals who were connected to the shooting have also been taken into custody.
According to Buck, the suspect had managed to evade detection and leave the state, but during the recent activity, they received information that he had returned to the local area.
According to Buck, the recent crackdown on crime in Kansas City is expected to have a significant impact on reducing criminal activities and enhancing safety. However, once the arrests are made, the subsequent legal proceedings are beyond their control.
“We focus on doing what is necessary and controlling the aspects within our power, which is to compile the best possible case and present it to the individual prosecutor’s office,” Buck stated. “However, beyond that, the outcome is beyond our control.”
The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) has formed a partnership with the prosecutor’s office as part of a comprehensive strategy to combat violence. This collaboration aims to disrupt violence through enforcement measures while also engaging with the community to address the root causes of crime. By working together, they hope to not only enforce the law but also provide essential social services to those in need.
According to a press release, the numbers provided are preliminary and subject to change as individual reports are analyzed and search warrants for cars and bags are carried out in the coming days.
A few squads will continue searching for remaining targets on Thursday, according to their statement.
