HPD Task Forces in Action – Dozens Arrested

August 6, 2007 - GREAT WORK BY ROBBERY DIVISION IN ARRESTING THREE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS

Investigators from the HPD Robbery Division, assigned to the Multi-Agency Violent Gang Task force, were assigned to nine aggravated robberies in the southwest side of town believed to be committed by the same suspects. The suspects identified as Mario Ancizar Velasquez (H/m, DOB: 9/15/86) and Juan Bautista Almonte (H/m, DOB: 1/24/87) were arrested in Clifton, New Jersey, and charged with aggravated robbery with deadly weapon in the 248th State District Court. The armed suspects went inside a restaurant and asked everyone to get on the ground, they took personal property and then left. Investigators traveled to Newark, New Jersey, to conduct a follow-up investigation. A confession was obtained from Velasquez along with information to another aggravated robbery. The suspects may face additional charges. As a result of the follow up investigation one additional charge of aggravated robbery was filed on each one of the suspects.

Another case the unit is working involves a suspect named Jamichael Lanore Trimble (b/m, DOB: 11/22/83) who was charged with aggravated robbery with deadly weapon in the 180th State District Court. Trimble was also identified in as many as 10 other robberies in the westside area of Houston. He was located in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 26th and is in custody pending extradition to Harris County.

MULTIPLE DIVISIONS TEAM-UP AND YIELD 88 ARRESTS

Exemplary police work netted dozens of arrests at the Amnesia Club at 5865 South Gessner. On July 14, investigators from the Narcotics, Vice, Patrol, Mobility Incident Management, Special Operations (Special Response Group), and the Jail Divisions conducted an after-hours task force operation that led to 88 arrests at the club. The Amnesia Club was targeted because it was determined employees were selling alcohol after hours.

Of the 88 people arrested, four were charged with possession of a controlled substance, one for delivery of a controlled substance, 82 for public intoxication and one for a liquor violation.

In addition, HFD personnel wrote 10 citations for various code violations. The Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission also cited the club for administrative violations. Numerous packages of discarded illegal narcotics were recovered off the floor.

JGA/JFC/BW 8-6-07

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.