Gang Induction in San Fernando Community

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Today the City Attorney Carmen Trutanich announced the filing of an injunction against the Northeast San Fernando Valley Columbus Street gang.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich was a hard core gang prosecutor back in the 80s. He is no stranger to the pain these criminals inflict on a community.

"I’ve seen the havoc they reign upon victims. I’ve held the hands of mothers whose lost sons from the deadly bursts of bullets and senseless gun violence," Trutanich said.

He points to a blown up map identifying the 2.7 square miles known as the safe zone where this injunction for the Columbus Street Gang will be in effect.

"When two people get together you know there not talking about batting averages and pitches. There talking about battery and gang raping and it’s well demonstrated across the city," Trutanich said.  

Captain Chamberlain, is out of LAPD’s mission station where this injunction will take place. He says that this injunction is another tool to support this community.

"This is something that’s mandated by the community by the people that live here. By the people who have to subjected by this ongoing harassment, this ongoing intimidation and fear of the gang and gang activity that’s related to it," Chamberlain said.

Trutanich says that the Columbus Street gang has no place in a civilized society. "When you have a kid who can’t go out and play in the front yard because a bullet down the street might him. That’s the neighborhood you don’t want to be in."

"If this injunction can help save one person’s life then all of the time and effort spent by the LAPD and City Attorney’s office was worth it," Trutanich said.

Opponents of gang injunctions say they can violate civil liberties and disrupt the peace process among warring groups.

A violation of this injunction would result in up to six months in custody.