Police arrest 19, seize guns & drugs in operation to dismantle "organized, dangerous gang"
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn announced on Tuesday afternoon, November 3rd the arrest of 19 members of a violent street gang in Milwaukee known as the Wild 100s. Additionally, drugs and guns were seized.
Chief Flynn said the Wild 100s is "a gang that has routinely engaged in assaults, robberies, car thefts, homicides and drug dealing across the city." Flynn added, "They are an organized, dangerous gang."
"These individuals terrorize their communities. They're bullies. They're armed bullies," Chief Flynn said.
Flynn said the gang uses social media including YouTube to recruit members. In one particular video, members were brandishing firearms including an assault rifle which they called a "cop dropper."
Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn
Law enforcement served seven warrants on Tuesday. Five firearms were recovered as was various amounts of narcotics, including heroin and cocaine.
19 members of the Wild 100s were taking into custody on charges ranging from drug possession to felon in possession of a firearm. Ten of those individuals are being charged with possession of firearms.
Chief Flynn said the suspects range in age from 17 to their early 40s.
Flynn said these individuals can be tied to homicides, car thefts, and assaults across the city of Milwaukee.
"They are connected to many other acts of violence and we anticipate they will be charged with other acts of violence," Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said.
"They are an organized, dangerous gang, that frequently uses the electronic media via YouTube and social media to recruit members," Flynn said.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
The Milwaukee Police Department provided FOX6 News with a link to a YouTube video showing the Wild 100s, and posted by its members. In the video, one of the gang's members wears a mask, while wielding a rifle they call a "cop dropper."
Chief Flynn said this operation was greatly helped by the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office as well as the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said of Tuesday's operation, "Our police department, working in conjunction with its partners, are acting proactively to make this city a safer city."
"These are people who are intent on breaking the law and raising havoc in this community and we are not going to allow it to happen," Mayor Barrett said.
"Clearly we are not going to pretend it is going to disappear anytime soon, but we believe we've made some significant inroads," Chief Flynn said.
The arrests made on Tuesday were the result of an investigation that has lasted more than a year -- and this is the latest roundup targeting this particular gang. There was another roundup back in April.
We're told police are still looking for at least eight members with active felony warrants.