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Police Arrest Several Members of Annapolis-Area Gang

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)— It's a significant blow to a dangerous gang. Six of the members are off the streets after an extensive operation in Annapolis.

Derek Valcourt has more on these arrests.

The investigation has been ongoing for several months. Police claim they've made a major dent in the Brown Pride gang.

Immigration agents team with Annapolis Police for a raid at a property in the 2000-block of Generals Highway around 6 p.m. on Monday.

In all, six men were taken into custody for drugs and suspected drug money was confiscated.

"With the help of our partners, we seized evidence that they were counterfeiting identification," said Chief Michael Pristoop, Annapolis Police.

Pristoop says the men were part of an emerging gang called Brown Pride, comprised in part by illegal aliens responsible for multiple crimes in the Annapolis area.

"So when we see a group whether it's five or 10, 15, we're concerned," said Chief Pristoop. "And in this case, it's maybe a couple dozen people who claimed that they have involvement in the Brown Pride. So we are not talking about a sizable number, but it's always going to concern the police."

Police launched a full investigation into the Brown Pride gang earlier this year when gang graffiti had been spray painted on the walls of Annapolis High School and Middle School.  Since then, police say seven teenagers have been arrested.

"Students have been disciplined in connection with the graffiti incidents; I know that," said Bob Mosier, Anne Arundel County Schools.

A school spokesman credits their cooperation with police for the gang arrests, and says the school is working to adopt an official gang policy.

"We've had gang prevention initiatives in our schools for a while," Mosier said. "We've been expanding them.  This year we put in an awareness campaign in place to encourage people to speak with adults when they see incidents happen or issues that they're not comfortable with."

The six adult men arrested Monday night are being held for deportation, pending criminal charges from the state of Maryland.

The Brown Pride gang is active in multiple states in the United States and originated in California.

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