Gangs Become A Major Problem In The Metro

Sorry, this video is no longer available

Fargo-Moorhead has a gang problem. Police say throughout the past year and a half, gang activity has been on the rise in the metro.

Authorities statewide are forming a street crimes unit, similar to one in the 90’s when gang activity was a problem in the Valley.

Fargo Police are partnering with the North Dakota Attorney General and the surrounding communities to take down these dangerous groups.

“Where there are gangs there is drug trafficking and where there is drug trafficking there is human trafficking,” says Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.

Lic squad, Fast Money Boys, Crips, Hells Angels. All gangs that have made their way to the F-M area.

“Their criminal activity ranges from distribution of drugs, human trafficking, armed robbery, strong armed robbery and assaults,” says Fargo Police Chief David Todd.

Assaults include a brutal gang fight that happened right in our backyard at Countryside Trailer Court. A number of people were arrested during this scuffle last October.

“This activity was more than what we first realized and extended into the communities that surround us,” Todd says.

In the past year there have been 69 arrests of confirmed gang members, 17 of those since the start of 2015. Many come from Chicago and Detroit. Police say some gang members also rely on local woman to support them and start families, making it harder to get them out of the community.

“Our community, although it’s a very safe place to live and raise a family is at a little bit of a tipping point here regarding criminal gang activity,” says Todd.

So to prevent our community from tipping over, a new task force of six full-time officers has been established and is already at work. But they need our help.

“In order to make this work, we have to have the community reach out and help as well,” says Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney.

Authorities have a message for any and all gang members in our area.

“If you’re involved in this activity, we already know who you are and if we don’t we’re going to know who you are very shortly,” Todd says.

Police want to remind residents not to profile people and to call their tip line if they see any illegal behavior.