Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
Dec. 10, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Over 50 arrests were made Tuesday after a Eastside and Northeast crackdown by law enforcement.

A group enforcement action initiated by the Kansas City No Violence Alliance (KC NoVA) helped with the arrests of 54 individuals and numerous other law enforcement actions, including the closing of nine properties associated with Northeast group members’ criminal activity. According to Major Joe McHale, project manager of KC NoVA, Kansas City Police Department officers, members of the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, DART (Drug Abatement Response Team) inspectors and other law enforcement officials focused on members of Northeast groups that have been recently connected to neighborhood violence.

McHale said in a press release that 54 city and state arrests were made, 39 warrants were cleared and 15 new charges were filed, including felony eluding. Six firearms were recovered, including two reported to be connected to a possible violent crime and a variety of drugs, including a pound of marijuana, were recovered. A large amount of stolen property also was recovered. Jackson County prosecutors have filed 13 criminal cases for drug possession and tampering, three more serious felony cases for resisting arrest, first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Two criminal cases are also being submitted to federal prosecutors.

In addition to the charges filed, bond has been revoked on two members of the Northeast group, nine properties were closed and posted by Jackson County DART because of numerous code violations that rendered the properties uninhabitable. Legal steps were also initiated by the prosecutor’s office to evict two residents who were engaged in illegal drug activity. Any illegal cable hookups are also being investigated.

Group enforcements are a key focus of the KC NoVA effort to reduce violence in Kansas City. Members of groups associated with violence are engaged before any enforcement and offered services and other help. They are also warned that if anyone in their group is associated with violence, an enforcement action will result against all members of their group. Everyone who was arrested as part of the sweep was given a card that reminded them of the opportunity they turned down. The card noted that KC NoVA met with members of Northeast groups this past summer, asking them to stop the violence that is destroying the Northeast community. Those people were encouraged to share the offer with others in their group, as well.

“They were offered anything we could do to help them choose a different path and to interrupt a cycle of violence,” McHale said. “Instead they chose violence.”

McHale also noted that the goal of KC NoVA is to ensure swift and certain consequences for any person who fails to heed warnings to stay away from violence.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said before the operation that key law enforcement agencies were working together to focus their best efforts on the persons responsible for violence in Kansas City. Anyone associated with violence should be warned that “we will meet you with all we’ve got.”

KC NoVA is a collaboration of law enforcement and community leaders, including KCPD Chief Darryl Forte’, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, Kansas City Mayor Sly James, U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson and UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton. KC NoVA targets reductions in violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., especially homicides.