Fresno Police say they have arrested the leadership of one of the city's most violent street gangs.
A 15-month investigation culminated Thursday morning with a highly coordinated set of raids.
At 7 O'clock, six simultaneous swat raids resulted in the arrest of 28 people including what the police department believes is the leadership of the Dog Pound Gang.
The gang was allegedly making more than a million dollars a year, primarily in prostitution and racketeering, but is also connected to numerous shootings and murders.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says they used a new approaching, including wiretaps and social media monitoring, to arrest a leadership group that had previously proven elusive.
"Behind every one of those individuals who were arrested, there are countless victims. Victims who were human trafficked. Who were placed out on the streets, who were beaten, who have had money taken from them, or victims as a result of drive-by shootings and even murders," Dyer said.
Multiple local, state and federal agencies were involved in the task force dubbed 'Operation Dog Track'.
Dyer says the gang is primarily African-American, operated out of west Fresno, and has as many as 200 members.
The suspects face a laundry list of charges and Dyer says more arrests are likely.
