police mark the perimeter of a crime scene as investigators work the scene of an officer-involved shooting September 9, 2012. (Photo for USA Today by Brett T. Roseman) 9/10/12 12:19:01 AM -- Chicago , IL -- THIS IS FOR A 1A COVER Chicago enduring a plague of homicides It seems to happen almost every weekend in President Obama's home town. Gunfire erupts, and young men die. While homicide rates in most major cities are flat or declining, Chicago is enduring an epidemic. A toxic mix of gangs, drugs and guns is responsible. On one recent weekend, there were nine shooting deaths and 28 more people wounded. On a recent Thursday, 13 people were shot and wounded in a 30-minute spate of violence, including eight gunned down on a single street. The police superintendent says some of the shootings were retaliation for crimes committed as long as a year ago. Mayor Emanuel Rahm says the ?culture of silence? is part of the problem. Police have suspended almost 80% of their investigations into non-fatal shootings because suspects won?t cooperate. Besides the experts and community activists and people like Rudy Giuliani, who really did turn things around in NYC, we'll talk to pastors and others who live and work in the most-affected neighborhoods. Recently there was a rash of shootings in a neighborhood called South Shore. It?s poor and mostly black, as are all the neighborhoods that are hardest hit. Cops call the area ?terror town? and say it?s a hotbed of gang violence. -- Photo by Brett T. Roseman, Freelance ORG XMIT: BR 42369 Chicago murder c 9/10/2 (Via OlyDrop) Xxx Chicago Murder Capital07 Jpg Il
San Diego, California – A coordinated law enforcement operation unfolded late Monday night and into Tuesday morning as multiple agencies executed search warrants at several properties across San Diego and National City. The activity is part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation led by the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force.
Authorities say the targeted locations were primarily short-term rental properties allegedly being used for human trafficking and prostitution. While officials have not disclosed the number of sites involved, they confirmed that the effort spanned multiple jurisdictions and included officers from the San Diego Police Department, the National City Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office emphasized the sensitive nature of the investigation, declining to share specific details and underlining that the operation is unrelated to federal immigration enforcement. “Specific details of this ongoing investigation are extremely sensitive and are not for media release,” the statement read. “This operation is NOT associated with any type of federal immigration enforcement.”
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, which brings together personnel from local, state, and federal agencies, has increasingly focused its efforts on the use of short-term rental properties in trafficking networks. Officials have noted that such locations can be particularly difficult to monitor, as they allow traffickers to operate with relative anonymity and mobility.
While authorities have yet to release further details, including arrests or potential charges, the raid shines a light on a broader trend in anti-trafficking efforts that targets the infrastructure enabling such crimes. The investigation remains active.
