Police: Arrests of 8 suspects will reduce Atlanta crime

<p>Local and federal authorities have arrested eight men they say were part of a violent crew of criminals who were a leading cause of the rise in violent crime in the city.</p><p>The arrests, which were announced Thursday, were made over the past two weeks and the men are believed to be involved in three murders in Atlanta and may be involved in three other killings.</p><p>"These crimes were committed by some of the worst of the worst," said Jeff Pearce, assistant special agent in charge of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.</p><p>Investigators said the men were part of an exceptionally violent crew who robbed other drug dealers and criminals. Police said the suspects were particularly dangerous because they often fired at their targets with little concern for bystanders.</p><p>Authorities said that while arresting the suspects, they seized body armor and 16 guns, including assault rifles and pistols.</p><p>Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington said the suspects played a large role in the rise in murders in Atlanta this summer.</p><p>"We believe we will now taper off some of the violence in our city," Pennington said Thursday.</p><p>Three of the suspects were former New Orleans residents who came to Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans police are investigating to see if the men are responsible for any crimes committed there, Pennington said.</p><p>Arrested were: Carlos Drennan, 28; Maurice Hargrove, 24; Prentice McNeil, 23; Ashton Mitchell, 21; Edward Morris III, 28; Marco Moses, 22; George Kerry Redding, 20; and Moerise Williams, 26.</p><p>Redding had been listed by the Atlanta Police Department as one of its 10 most wanted suspects.</p><p>Police said they are still investigating whether the eight men might have been involved in other crimes and that more charges are pending.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/10/89360