Fayetteville Police chipped in last week as a multi-agency task force zeroed in on Hunter Ridge mobile home park in Clayton County, arresting 24 and issuing 16 citations.

Chief Steve Heaton said Fayetteville received a call requesting the department to provide a command post for the multi-agency operation. Clayton County Police had received community complaints about crime, shootings and gang activity at the 500-home park, said Clayton Police spokesperson Rebecca Brown of the July 12 operation. Agents had numerous warrants in hand on a variety of charges when they entered the Tara Road site, Brown said, eventually arresting 24, including some illegals. Officers also issued 16 citations to drivers at checkpoints set up near the vicinity of the mobile home park, she said.

Brown said members of the Latin Kings and Brown Side Locos gangs were present during the raid. She had heard, but could not verify, that members of MS-13 might have been present. Brown said gangs have recently altered their manner of recruitment, now using websites such as MySpace to solicit new members.

Fayetteville Police Sgt. Steve Crawshaw manned one of three command posts, joined by agencies such as Clayton Police, FBI, INS, DFACS, ATF, Forest Park Police, Clayton County Magistrate and Animal Control.