11 of 16 suspects arrested; weapons and drugs seized in Beehive gang breakup

Detective Bill Noon, of the Toledo Police Department, discusses the arrest of 11 beehive gang members during a news conference Wednesday at the Safety Building in Toledo.

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Detective Bill Noon, of the Toledo Police Department, discusses the arrest of 11 beehive gang members during a news conference Wednesday at the Safety Building in Toledo.

A central Toledo gang, whose members police say are connected to homicides and shootings, has been dismantled, culminating a year-long investigation with criminal charges at the state and federal levels.

Various charges for gun violations, drugs, and gang participation were filed against 16 men, 11 of whom were in custody as of late Wednesday. Police said all are members of the Beehives, a Crips gang affiliate that reportedly claimed territory in the area of Franklin Avenue and Bancroft Street and around Scott High School.

“You're talking about taking drug dealers, burglars, and shooters off the street,” said Toledo police Det. Bill Noon, the lead investigator in the case. “So in those specific neighborhoods that they hung out in, I think that those individuals that live in those neighborhoods, will probably feel a little safer.”

In custody were Oshea Moore, Shavonte Madrigal, Darnell Jackson, Monta Wallace, Amir McGlown, Adam Anderson, Ramon Love, Keith Carter, Dominique Davis, Jerome Hornbeak, and Kevin Hornbeak. Police did not release addresses or ages for the suspects, but said all live in Toledo.

Police did not release the names of the men not yet arrested; 10 of the suspects have been indicted in the U.S District Court in Toledo and six were indicted at Lucas County Common Pleas Court. Court documents remained sealed Wednesday evening and were not available.

Police Chief Derrick Diggs said members of the gang have been linked to two homicides in the city, though he declined to say which ones, citing ongoing investigations.

The year-long investigation, which also involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, concluded that the gang members allegedly broke into homes or cars and stole property, including guns.

They also were dealing marijuana or crack cocaine, said Detective Noon, and using the money to buy guns or trading drugs for guns.

In some cases, gang members would have their girlfriends purchase firearms, the detective said, although the girlfriends were not charged.

The guns were either sold on the street or, in at least one case, linked to a shooting, Detective Noon said.

“They are a gang that has created quite a bit of havoc in the last two, two-and-a-half years,” Detective Noon said.

During the course of the investigation, police said they confiscated or bought 30 firearms and a small amount of drugs.

The arrests of the suspects started early Wednesday and the search continued throughout the day.

Detective Noon said the arrests were made in “various locations” and without incident.

Two women who live in the neighborhood said they were not aware of the gang and have had no problems since moving to the area.

Toledo police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said department officials hope that other gangs will see the arrests as a “message” and will not try to expand or move into territory once occupied by Beehives.

“We’re hoping that people will take this as an example and learn that if they're going to operate an organized gang and commit these types of violent acts, that they too are going to be prosecuted at the federal and state level,” the sergeant said.

This is the second time this year that Toledo police have announced a gang “takedown.”

In August, authorities announced that criminal gang charges had been filed against numerous alleged members of the Smith Park Mafia, a central-city gang affiliated with the Bloods.

Chief Diggs said the department already has set its sights on another gang.

Contact Taylor Dungjen at: tdungnen@theblade.com or 419-724-6054, or onTwitter @tdungjen_Blade.