Gang bust gives neighborhood day of peace

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- People in a violent part of South West Fresno say the Brookhaven Neighborhood is a little more quiet thanks to a massive gang sweep. It's a place, police say members of the Dog Pound Gang call home.

A woman who we are not identifying said, "Half the time, you don't know who's the gang bangers-- you know, until somebody gets shot."

Normally, she says when police show up, it's because of a shooting but on Thursday, officers moved in to break up the gang.

"Came outside and it was just madness-- police all up and down the street," The woman said.

It was a major operation called "Dog Track" and 28 people were arrested between Fresno, Madera and Clovis. Among them, Chief Jerry Dyer says, were leaders of the Dog Pound.

Chief Dyer says the gang was fueled by prostitution -- it was the main source of income, pulling in $30,000 a week for each of the gang leaders.

"Behind every one of those individuals that was arrested, there are countless victims," Chief Dyer added, "victims who were human trafficked, who were placed out on the streets, who were beaten, money taken from them or victims of drive-by shootings or even murders."

Without the gang members in the neighborhood, another woman who didn't want to be identified told Action News she could hear the difference, "I didn't know why it was quiet but it's quiet today," she said.

Still, there is concern, "They take 'em and let 'em right out, they bond right out and they continue," the woman said.

Not everyone in the neighborhood is convinced the bust will make the violence stop but some people have hope.

"I pray that it does, but I don't know."

Chief Dyer says there will be more arrests within the Dog Pound and rival gang members will be next on the list.