EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
Three Evansville men have been charged with criminal gang activity.
They were arrested Sunday night after a fight that police say involved 100 people.
Detectives say a victim was pinned to the ground during the fight in the parking lot of Kangaroo Express at 1650 S. Kentucky Avenue.
It happened near neighborhoods on Evansville's south side and police say this activity will not be tolerated.
Two blocks away from where investigators say the beating occurred, residents like Paul Bartley are just trying to enjoy the quiet life. But as Bartley explains, it's anything but.
"I've seen it too many times. I'm almost 62 years old and it's an everyday thing," Bartley said about his neighborhood on S. New York Street.
Luther Lawton Jr., Tony Johnson II, and Maleek Davis are all charged with battery and criminal gang activity.
Investigators believe the suspects may be linked to shootings at Linwood and Adams and on Lincoln Avenue.
Authorities say Wednesday's charges send a clear message: this activity needs to stop.
"It's a very difficult problem because it's hard to find people to come forward and who want to give information. A lot of it is out of fear. And so when we have a situation where we are able to hold these people accountable within the perimeters of the law, we are going to do so," said Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann.
"We want to address this before it becomes bigger. You look at a city like Chicago, they've got 75,000 people who claim gang affiliation. Obviously, we'd never get to that, but we feel if we have 30 people claiming gang affiliation and they're going out acting like gang members, selling drugs, shooting at people, we want to address that, so that it doesn't get bigger than 30," said EPD's Jason Cullum.
Bartley says he feels his street is now little safer, but says this is only one step in the right direction.
"Some of them are off the streets, but it don't get all of them off," Bartley said.
Luther Lawton Jr. and Maleek Davis are out on bond Wednesday night, and Tony Johnson II is still being held in jail.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
Luther Lawton Jr. Source: Vanderburgh County Sheriff
Tony Johnson II. Source: Vanderburgh County Sheriff
Maleek Davis. Source: Vanderbugh County Sheriff
