COPS ARREST 11 IN ALLEGED DRUG RING

Raid at S.F. Projects Aimed At Knock Out Posse Gang

Eleven people suspected of connections with a drug ring that worked out of
a public housing project were arrested in pre-dawn raids early Friday.

The raids - by San Francisco, state and federal officers - were aimed at
knocking out the Knock Out Posse, which conducted illegal sales in and
around the Marcus Garvey Housing Project at Eddy and Steiner streets,
according to Lt. William Davenport of the SFPD.

Armed with search and arrest warrants, officers went to 13 different
locations where they made the arrests and confiscated drugs and guns.

The police did not encounter any resistance, Davenport said, but at one
location they had to shoot and kill a pit bull that charged at them.

The arrests culminated a year-long investigation, he said, and were the
result of information developed by Officers Mike Wells and Brian Peagler of
Park Station.

Several residents of the projects cheered the officers as they fanned out
over the area at 5 a.m. Some told officers that they had been threatened by
gang members and were in fear of their lives.

Davenport said police recovered seven handguns, a large quantity of
marijuana, some cocaine and crack cocaine, and approximately $4,000 in cash.

Approximately 90 officers conducted the raids, accompanied by
representatives of the district attorney's office, the Bureau of Alcohol
Tobacco and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department
of Justice, HUD, and probation and parole officers.