SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Police Department is investigating extortion by local gang members in Barrio Logan.
Authorities said businesses in the area have been threatened by two gangs, who have intimidated the business owners into paying for “security” and “protection” plans. The cost for these plans had started at $200 a month, and could increase as the gangs took advantage of the business owners.
Authorities said if the business owners did not pay for the “protection” program, they would receive violent threats or have their businesses or buildings vandalized.
Over the course of the 18-month investigation so far, detectives and prosecutors have uncovered the same groups are connected to incidents in Chicano Park. Authorities said the groups have tried to “own” the park, not allow anyone else inside, and have been physically assaulting people there, including Venezuelan immigrants. Authorities said so far the incidents have included: 130 calls for police service, 25 property crimes, 18 violent crimes, including two murders — the latest over Labor Day Weekend when a teenager was shot and killed.
Authorities said the losses so far are more than $100,000.
Authorities believe the two gangs involved are identified as the “Logan Red Steps” and “Logan 30th Street Gangs,” and may be tied to a bigger organized crime in the jail and prison systems. So far they’ve arrested six people, but authorities say there’s still 16 others on their radar.
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This case has several departments assisting in the ongoing investigation including the San Diego Police Department, San Diego County Probation, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, DEA, and San Diego County Sherriff’s Office, who have served search warrants, probation and parole searches, and jail and prison searches.
The department has been able to put together on extortion case, but are looking for more people impacted.
“We have video of these guys operating, checking doors and windows, and these guys are armed,” San Diego Police Department Captain Manny Del Toro said. “This is the kind of thing that exists in old Mobster movies.”
Del Toro says in his decades of service, he has never seen anything like this.
Authorities say some businesses may be too concerned to come forward out of fear of retaliation. The FOX 5/KUSI crew experienced a reluctancy to discuss the situation on camera when they visited the Barrio Logan neighborhood Thursday afternoon as well. Some people said they’ve been attacked and don’t want to get further involved, for their own safety, but were glad to see arrests are being made.
Anyone with information is urged to call the SDPD Gang Unit at 619-531-2847 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
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