February 10, 2012 - Houston police have arrested 12 suspects responsible for at least seven carjackings on the southeast and southwest sides of the city in a 36-hour crime spree during one January weekend.

Officers assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division's Robbery, Tactical and Gang Units were investigating a sharp rise in aggravated robberies and allocated extra resources at an event during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend on Sunday, January 15.  There, officers arrested three suspects and recovered three stolen vehicles.

In addition to the carjackings, the suspects, ranging in age from 14 to 21, were also involved in two shooting incidents and an auto theft between January 14-16.  No one was injured in the shooting cases.

The five adult suspects are identified as Lint Lajon Mouton (b/m, DOB: 10-13-90), Keith Douglas Osby (b/m, DOB: 11-4-93), Derrick Vincent-Do Prothro (b/m, DOB: 7-30-94), Travion Joyce (b/m, DOB: 10-6-94) and Mark Anthony Foston (b/m, DOB: 2-5-92).  Mouton is charged with four counts of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and Osby and Prothro are charged with three counts of the same charge.  Joyce and Foston are charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.  All suspects are charged in the 337th State District Court.  The seven juvenile suspects were referred to Harris County Juvenile Probation authorities on similar charges.

Photos of the adult suspects are attached to this news release. 

HPD Lieutenant Randy Upton said in two instances suspects employed a rolling road block manuever to stop a citizen's vehicle.  "One technique they used included intentionally ramming the victim's vehicle and when the victim stepped out to survey the damage, he or she was robbed at gunpoint for their vehicle," said Lt. Upton.  "We believe these criminals were on a path to possibly kill someone," he added.  "Our officers did a great job in gathering intelligence and getting all of them off the streets before that happened."

The Southeast Division Tactical Unit presented the findings of the investigation to the Harris County District Attorney's Office and executed a warrant round-up last Friday (Feb. 10) in which the remaining seven individuals were taken into custody without incident.  The five others - Foston and four juveniles - were arrested during the dates of the crime spree.