By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego, CA–Law enforcement officials and the city of San Diego have reported that a newly formed task force targeting chronic criminal offenders within the homeless population is yielding positive results.
Led by San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott, and San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit, the San Diego Accountability Renewal and Community Health Task Force (SD ARCH) targets individuals involved in repeated drug sales, drug use, theft, and vandalism.
According to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, four defendants have been convicted and sentenced in connection with the task force’s work. They include Frederick Johnson, 59, who was arrested for possession of methamphetamine for sale after officers found an ounce of the drug plus an additional 13 vials in his van. Johnson was later re-arrested after he failed to appear in court and officers found more meth and five cell phones in a tent he was living in at Linda Vista Park.
In a second case, defendants Della Infante, 59, Angel Bernardo Reyes, 55, and Ramon Julio Byars, 44, were all convicted of sale of a controlled substance after undercover officers repeatedly bought meth from them. In the months before the incidents, there were more than 21 narcotics-related crime cases and over 25 arrests and citations for narcotics-related incidents in the area around Sports Arena Blvd. in San Diego.
“It is unacceptable to allow blatant and repeated criminal activity to continue unabated without consequences,” said DA Stephan. “Offenders who commit the types of crime negatively impacting residents, business owners and other unsheltered individuals are a small but active percentage of the homeless population. Our goal is not to simply incarcerate members of that community but, instead, compel them to accept the treatment and services they need and thus, assist them in ending the cycle of crime and homelessness.”
Two years of data show the overdose rate for people experiencing homelessness is 118 times higher than the general population. Being a victim of domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking are found to be high factors contributing to a person becoming homeless— especially for women and children.
City Attorney Mara Elliot says the city of San Diego won’t allow criminals to operate open-air drug markets on the streets.
“Those experiencing homelessness or suffering from addiction are entitled to our compassion, but that does not give anyone a license to commit crimes in our community. We take drug offenses very seriously in San Diego because drug offenses often lead to the commission of more serious crimes,” Elliot said.
The San Diego Police Department will have officers on patrol in areas known for criminal activity.
“The SD ARCH Task Force brings together a collective group to make an even greater impact. We are proud to be a part of this task force that will hold criminals accountable, provide resources to those in need, and reduce crime in our communities,” Chief Nisleit said.
The SD ARCH Task Force plans to meet once a month with city officials.
