Get real. There has been and, despite the opening of the many wonderful shopping, dining and cultural activities in our city in the last 3-5 years, there continues to be a crime problem in the DTSS area. Cutting back on the MCPD budget and thus the police presence (whether visible or not) in the area will, most likely, only exacerbate the problem.

While undoubtedly no one who lives in the vicinity of DTSS wants to feel like they live in a police state, myself included, there is a world of distinction between such a scenario and the current situation in DTSS/”Hellsworth” area, particularly on a weekend evening. Groups of teenagers and (not-so) young adults of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds roam the area with carte blanche, using profanity, wearing gang colors (faux ganster though they may be) and generally intimidating the segments of the population that area wants to attract; local residents out for an enjoyable time and paying customers to the bars, restaurants and shops in the area. I hope that MCPD and the private “security” personnel that supervise the DTSS area will rethink the “kids will be kids” perspective which has defined their conduct/response to what is going on in DTSS. We shouldn’t have to wait for a couple of wannabe gangsters to sqare off in the middle of Ellsworth before we say enough is enough.

Mr Green Giant just because some teens act stupid and disrespectful you can’t say they will be the ones to commit assaults etc.

If the politicians in Montgomery County had not buried their heads in the sand when many in the Latino community where talking about gangs in the county over 10 years ago- they could have gotten a grip on the problem sooner.
I’d be interested in knowing if these where really Bloods or wannabes- sound more like wannabes.

Editor’s note: Thanks, TKO. By “desolate”, I mean less heavily traveled than Ellsworth Drive or Colesville Road, especially at 11:00 p.m., around when the suspects were roving about. — JD (Jul 28, 2008)

If the suspects in this case “were a significant part of the robbery increase”, as Capt Johnson said, then it goes to reason that the said increase rested on the shoulders of a few people — NOT an entire age group, socio-economic group, ethnic group, etc.

“The statement that ‘they were a significant part of the robbery increase’ seems to belie the claims of many that there has been an increase in street crime in Silver Spring lately.” [Sligo]

“I wish MoCo would really get tough and start to charge ‘juveniles’ as adults, they are committing adult crimes after all, not stealing gum from the supermarket.” [JG]

“The only thing worse than a criminal, is a criminal who’s also a wannabe.” [Batman]

Overall, I still think Silver Spring is relatively safe. These suspects were roaming desolate streets, not Ellsworth Drive. And there’s a difference between swearing and cat calling, and stealing someone’s cell phone.

Furthermore, this story tells me the cops are on top of things. Thank you, third-district PD!

Editor’s note: This person’s screen name has been modified. — JD (Jul 28, 2008)

Bloods? Gangs? But I thought last week everyone thought it was just “kids” being kids downtown! Time to face facts people, obviously we have a problem, this story highlights that. Get the kids under control, I wish MoCo would really get tough and start to charge “juveniles” as adults, they are committing adult crimes after all, not stealing gum from the supermarket.