Pubdate: Thu, 03 Nov 2005
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2005 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kcstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221
Author: Kevin Hoffmann

DOZENS HELD IN WARRANT SWEEP AT APARTMENTS

Federal and local authorities teamed up Wednesday to continue a 
crime-fighting effort aimed at public housing developments in the area.

Kansas City police conducted a warrant sweep at Stonegate Meadows 
apartment complex near Interstate 70 and Sterling Avenue.

And U.S. Attorney Todd Graves was on hand to announce several 
indictments tied to the Public Housing Safety Initiative, a program 
funded by a federal grant that focuses on crimes inside or near public housing.

"The vast majority of people in public housing are good, upstanding 
citizens," Graves said. "We're trying to focus on the one bad apple."

In the warrant sweep, police cleared 50 warrants with the arrests of 
at least 25 persons, nine for felonies, including a drug possession 
charge, seven for state misdemeanors and 34 for municipal 
infractions, said police Sgt. Jeff Klienow.

Those arrested were handcuffed and loaded on a bus while children ran 
and played nearby. The bus headed downtown to Police Headquarters for 
processing.

Arnetha Sampson, who has lived at Stonegate Meadows for four years, 
said the arrests needed to be made.

"I think anytime you've got a warrant it's something bad," she said.

Macie L. Houston, regional director of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, said several initiatives had improved Kansas 
City's public housing. But sometimes it's tough to keep unwanted elements away.

"When they take applications, they do screening," she said. "But what 
we find happening is that people who become problems are outsiders 
and their names aren't even on the applications."

Graves' office announced the initiative in September. Since then it 
has secured nine felony indictments against 12 persons.

The program is funded by a $400,000 federal grant and allows federal 
prosecution of those who commit crimes within 200 feet of public 
housing. Gravess said that in addition to the warrant sweeps and the 
indictments, his office would try to find those who commit welfare fraud.

Those named in indictments announced Wednesday:

[names redacted] 
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman