Baltimore Riots: Gang Members Dispute Claim They're Targeting Police

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Members of rival Baltimore gangs talked with clergy and the media Monday night to refute a report earlier in the day from police that said rival gangs had banded together to harm police officers.

Charles Shelley, a member of the Crips gang, along with a Bloods member named Jamal, stood with their arms around each other’s shoulders at a Baltimore church to denounce the street violence.

They told a Baltimore Sun reporter the Baltimore police warning Monday that gangs had made a pact to target police officers was not true.

“We don’t want nobody to get hurt. All that about the police getting hurt by certain gangs, that’s false,” Shelley said. “We’re here to protect our community. That’s it. We don’t want no trouble. … It’s mayhem because people don’t want trouble.”

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Earlier in the day the Baltimore Police Department said gangs have banded together to put ”hits” out on police officers nationwide. It urged agencies across the country to take precautions.

“The Baltimore Police Department/Criminal Intelligence Unit has received credible information that members of various gangs including the Black Guerilla Family, Bloods and Crips have entered into a partnership to ’take-out’ law enforcement officers,” according to the statement.

In New Jersey, which is preparing to send officers to help with crowd control in Baltimore, a police union took to Facebook to remind members to be careful, and even avoid wearing police-related clothing when they’re off duty.

The New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police said, in part, “We remind all of our members to continue to be vigilant and ever aware of your surroundings during your tour of duty. Additionally, it may be prudent to use extra caution while off duty, especially if wearing police/union related clothing or apparel, which would identify you as a (law enforcement officer) at a time when you are alone, or with your family and without your vest or other defensive gear. Please be Careful.”

Jamal said the Baltimore Police Department doesn’t want the gangs to unify. “They think we gangs so we violent. No, we’re a family. We hang out together almost every single day.”

Gang members disputed the police contention that the Crips, Bloods and Black Guerilla Family had called a truce to fight police.

They told WBAL TV that they only want justice for Freddie Gray, and that they were on the streets to end the looting and fighting.

A group of young men told a WBAL reporter that as they tried to keep the streets quiet, authorities and media unfairly placed the blame for unrest on gangs.

“It makes us look real bad, and it makes images that’s backing up what they’re saying about us,” one gang member told the TV station. “I understand why people are mad, but we got to handle things another way.”

Another gang member said that during peaceful protests last week, restaurant customers threw beer on them and used the N-word.

“We are black men united,” several of the gang members said.

PHOTOS: Screenshot from WBAL TV of gang member; screenshot from Baltimore Sun video of gang members Charles Shelley and Jamal.

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