Authorities announce 10 new arrests from Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force

Standing at a podium at the Cedar Rapids Police Department Friday afternoon, Chief Wayne Jerman vowed to take down anyone who illegally uses or possesses firearms in the city.

“We will target you, we will arrest you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent possible,” Jerman said.

As evidence of that commitment to reducing gun-related violence in the city, Jerman, United States Attorney Sean Berry and others announced during a press conference the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force – a collaboration between the police department and county, state and federal partners – have taken 10 suspects off the street in the last few weeks on gun-related charges.

An eleventh suspect is in their sights.

“The task force has sent the clear message: if you're going to illegally possess weapons, don't do in Cedar Rapids,” Berry said.

Following a spike in violent crime in the city in June 2009, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies – including the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Linn County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Homeland Security and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire arms and Explosives – met to share information on gang activity and to form a task force to combat that activity, as well as the local drug trade and violent crime. The result was the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force.

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Metz, of the FBI's Omaha office, said the task force – and others like it across the country – work by combining the experience of local law enforcement with the resources of the federal government.

Metz described the Cedar Rapids Task Force as “one of the most successful programs in our area.”

On Friday, Berry announced that, since June 4, 10 suspects have been arrested on state and federal weapons charges in Cedar Rapids. Authorities also said an 11

^th

man, Andre Corbett, is wanted on federal weapons charges.

Jerman said the task force is one of the most useful strategies in curbing gun violence in the city, which he has made his top priority.

“Shortly after arriving here last year, I saw what I felt was an unreasonably high and unacceptable amount of gun-related crimes here in Cedar Rapids,” he said. “I was able to get together with our partners here and devise some strategies to address this. The task force was the most prominent way.”

Added Jerman, “This effort could not be possible without the extreme cooperation of parties involved.”

Jerman credited the work of patrol officers who have taken 46 weapons off the streets in the last year and efforts from the department's special response team, which has flooded areas of the city at times to create a visible deterrent to illegal activity.

“Their activities have also created positive results,” he said.

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden also praised the work of the task force, noting the citizens of Cedar Rapids expect law enforcement to dedicate all of their resources to address crime in the community.

“This task force has done that,” Vander Sanden said.

Task Force charges and indictments in June:

• William Robison was indicted on charges of unlawfully possessing a 9mm handgun with an “obliterated” serial number and unlawful possession of 9 mm ammunition.
• Daevon Evans was indicted on charges of unlawfully possessing a 9mm pistol.
• Colby Palmer was indicted on charges of unlawfully possessing a .357 magnum revolver, .357 ammunition and a .22 caliber pistol.
• Austin Curtis was indicted on charges of unlawfully possessing a 9mm pistol while being a fugitive from justice.
• Rhamond Bolden was arrested on charges of unlawfully possessing a 9mm pistol and ammunition.
• Eric L. Johnson was arrested on charges of unlawfully possessing two .22 caliber firearms.
• Demetrius Hardiman was arrested on charges of unlawfully giving a 9mm pistol of Ramius Hardiman, despite knowing Ramius Hardiman could not possess a firearm.
• Ramius Hardiman faces federal charges related to unlawfully possessing a 9mm pistol.
• Dustin Whitford was indicted on charges of unlawfully possessing of a .360 caliber pistol.
• Clyde Bell, Jr. was arrestesd on charges of unlawfully possessing a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Still wanted by authorities is 24-year-old Andre Corbett. Police said Corbett, who last resided at 11 Glenbrook Dr. SE, No. 204 in Cedar Rapids, is wanted on federal weapons charges. Because he is not in custody, authorities said they could not elaborate on Corbett's crimes.

Anyone with information on Corbett is asked to call the Cedar Rapids Police Department at 286-5491 or Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-272-7463.