Photo byPolk County Sheriff’s Office

By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyCreations - News & Media (ISC)

Published September 17th, 2024

Polk County, FL - The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the Violent Gang Investigative Task Force (VGITF), has successfully arrested 19 gang members connected to a wave of violent crimes across the region, including a string of drive-by shootings and a fatal stabbing. These arrests mark a major victory in the fight against escalating gang violence in Winter Haven, Haines City, and Waverly.

Key Takeaways:

• VGITF Formation & Impact: Established in February 2023, the VGITF is a collaborative effort involving local law enforcement agencies, the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Attorney’s Office. It was created to curb the spike in gang-related shootings, which surged from 6 incidents in 2019 to 59 in 2022.

• Reduction in Violence: Since the VGITF’s inception, gang-related shootings have dropped by 30%, thanks to rigorous investigations and inter-agency cooperation.

• Arrests & Charges: The task force has identified and arrested 144 gang members. Collectively, they have accumulated over 1,600 prior arrests and face charges ranging from homicide to narcotics trafficking.

• Operation Drive-By Bye: This operation specifically targeted gang members responsible for retaliatory violence following the 2021 murder of gang member Dyreon Outsey. The violent feud escalated into multiple shootings and one fatal stabbing.

• Notable Incidents: Key events include the fatal drive-by shooting of Ira Footman in January 2022 and a violent altercation at Publix in November 2023, which resulted in the death of 16-year-old Demetrius Alexis.

• Gang Enhancements: Many of the arrests include “gang enhancements,” which intensify penalties for crimes committed in furtherance of gang activities.

• Weapons Recovered: Investigators seized multiple firearms, including illegal automatic weapons modified with “switches” to increase firepower.

The Numbers:

• 144 Gang Members Arrested

• 1,599 Prior Arrests

• 30% Decrease in Gang-Related Shootings

Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his determination to end gang violence in Polk County, stating, “This is kids killing kids, and we’re not going to accept that. We’re not going to allow that.”

Operation Drive-By Bye sends a clear message: law enforcement in Polk County is committed to keeping its streets safe and will aggressively pursue those who threaten public safety.

Photo byISC News & Media

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