Dozens of suspected gang members were arrested in a Brooklyn park by an army of cops after several of the thugs went viral to spread word of a meeting, the Daily News has learned.
A group of reputed Crips members used Twitter and other social networking sites to arrange what they called a "Crips Holiday" at Amersfort Park in East Flatbush on Wednesday, said a police source.
Acting on a tip, cops from the NYPD's Gang Unit, along with officers from the 63rd Precinct, the borough task force and the Emergency Service Unit, arrived at the park near Avenue J and E. 38th St. about 7:30 p.m., police said.
They ordered the crowd, who were mostly dressed in the distinct blue colors of the gang, to disperse from the park. When they refused, cops moved in and rounded up 56 of the gang-bangers, a police source said.
A 9-mm. Taurus pistol was later recovered inside the park, cops said.
"We don't know exactly what their intentions were," said one law enforcement source with knowledge of the arrests. "But a gun was recovered. The potential for danger was there."
As first reported by The News this month, the NYPD recently established a new Juvenile Justice Unit, which monitors social media websites for gang activity.
It's not clear if that unit had a role in the recent arrests.
Gang members busted after using Twitter, other social networking sites to arrange 'Crips Holiday'
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A group of reputed Crips members used Twitter and other social networking sites to arrange what they called a "Crips Holiday" at Amersfort Park in East Flatbush on Wednesday, said a police source.
Acting on a tip, cops from the NYPD's Gang Unit, along with officers from the 63rd Precinct, the borough task force and the Emergency Service Unit, arrived at the park near Avenue J and E. 38th St. about 7:30 p.m., police said.
They ordered the crowd, who were mostly dressed in the distinct blue colors of the gang, to disperse from the park. When they refused, cops moved in and rounded up 56 of the gang-bangers, a police source said.
A 9-mm. Taurus pistol was later recovered inside the park, cops said.
"We don't know exactly what their intentions were," said one law enforcement source with knowledge of the arrests. "But a gun was recovered. The potential for danger was there."
As first reported by The News this month, the NYPD recently established a new Juvenile Justice Unit, which monitors social media websites for gang activity.
It's not clear if that unit had a role in the recent arrests.
Gang members busted after using Twitter, other social networking sites to arrange 'Crips Holiday'
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