'Help on the way' for Moses Lake's Larson Housing area
Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones addresses the recent gang violence in the Larson Housing area and announced plans to deal with the gang activity.
MOSES LAKE - Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones is fed up with the recent gang violence in the Larson Housing area and vows help is on the way.
Jones held a press conference Friday afternoon following a fourth shooting in the past month in the community. According to the sheriff's office, six shots were fired into a home in the 1200 block of Arlington Drive Thursday night. All four shootings, including the killing of Brandon Mende Feb. 16 are gang-related, Jones said.
"I'm here today to tell you I am done putting up with gangs and gang-related violence," Jones added. "I'm also here to tell the members of this community that more help is on the way. We're going to do what we need to do to keep this community safe."
Beginning immediately, Jones reassigned more deputies to patrol the former military base community, which will include routine patrols and task force operations.
"Law enforcement officers will engage in high-levels of criminal profiling and will contact any suspicious person or vehicle," Jones said. "I am furious about this (violence) and I refuse to let a small group of bad people dictate how good people have to live. People who live in this neighborhood go day to day under the cloud of fear that they may be the victim of a stray bullet. They don't deserve to live in fear."
"Obviously, we're not in the business to violate people's civil rights, but on the other hand, I think hard-working people that are being stopped for reasonable suspicion are going to appreciate our efforts in order to curb this kind of activity," he said.
Jones said he will work with the Board of County Commissioners to provide necessary funding to support his plan to increase law enforcement's presence in the area.
While Michael David Meier, 17, was arrested last week in Mende's killing, suspects have not been identified in the other three shootings.
Meier was charged as an adult with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and three counts of witness tampering, according to court records. He is being held on $2 million bail and scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
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