I was wrong.

I truly thought that it would take more killings, specifically of more-well-to-do individuals, to make our local law enforcement agencies tackle our local gang problem. However that does not seem to be the case. According to the Hampton Country Guardian, since June 15th, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Department in conjunction with town and county law enforcement agencies from Hampton, Jasper and Allendale counties and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, have made significant progress in breaking the hold that local gangs have on our beautiful, rural community by arresting 70 gang members.

Six of those arrests were last week. Two of them for allegedly being involved in the killing of Antonio Holmes, whose body was found by two Cypress Creek Hunting Lodge guides several weeks ago. The other four were charged in connection with the killing of Lena store owner Ronnie Wooten, Sr., last year; That brings the total in that case to seven. The rest of the gang members who were rounded up were charged with various offenses including robbery, drug possession and drug trafficking. All of these arrests stemmed from a year-long investigation in to our local gangs, called Operation Gang Busters, which also helped identify another 135 suspected gang members from five different gangs so that they could be watched. The gangs identified in the investigation are The Bloods, The Crips, Gangsta Disciples, Folk Nation and the Cross The Track Thugs.

I truly want to congratulate the local law enforcement agencies for finally attacking our gang problem. This will really help local and out of state hunters keep from being victims of their crimes by reducing clubhouse robberies and vandalism. And with these hoodlums off of the streets, hunters should also feel safer when they visit, shop and eat in our local towns.

Now I want to call attention to the Hampton Country Sheriff’s Office’s new Gang Investigator, officer Maurice Hunt, whose sole job will be to combat our gang problem. Our local residents need to step up to the plate and help him by providing any information they have as well as continuing to call when they see something out of place or when something happens. I say this because in the past, many locals would simply not even bother calling the authorities since nothing was ever done when they reported problems.

While there is still much work to be done to exterminate the gang vermin that are ruining the lowcountry, I believe that this was a significant step forward! Again, I congratulate all of those individuals and agencies that assisted with this massive undertaking to put a dent in our gang infestation. All I, and many others, ask now is that you don’t let up.

Jeff

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