As part of a six-month investigation in partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department that culminated in the arrest of seven and the planned arrest of 17 additional suspected members of the notorious Rockwood criminal street gang in the Rampart Division, the city attorney’s office has filed three nuisance abatement lawsuits against apartment buildings controlled by the gang and used as hubs for criminal activity.

The three properties named in the lawsuit are 311 Witmer St., a 20-unit apartment building; 325 Witmer St., a 19-unit apartment building; and 1630 W. Third St., a 101-unit apartment building. Each of the property owners is charged with narcotics abatement and public nuisance violations based on site-specific evidence of narcotics sales and other nuisance gang activity at the properties.

On all three properties, the lawsuits seek injunctive relief implementation of strict management and physical improvements designed to end the gang’s control of the properties. The complaints request that the owners be ordered to reside at their respective properties. A $25,000 penalty, attorneys’ fees and investigative costs to the LAPD are also being sought.

The apartment building at 325 Witmer St. has been one of the most notorious hangouts for members and associates of the Rockwood gang. Gang members allegedly congregate, sell drugs, store weapons and use the property as a hub for the commission and facilitation of gang-related criminal and nuisance activity. Since 2003, on at least seven occasions, law enforcement made and/or conducted narcotics-related arrests or undercover narcotics purchases at the property. Since 2002, LAPD has made approximately 18 gang related arrests and recovered four firearms at the property.

The apartment building at 311 Witmer St. is a known Rockwood gang hangout used to congregate, sell drugs and engage in other crime. Since 2007, there have been approximately 10 gang or narcotics-related arrests or criminal incidents at the property. LAPD officers recently conducted four controlled drug purchases at the property.

The apartment building on Third Street is also a Rockwood gang hangout. Since 2007, there have been nine narcotics-related arrests or narcotics investigations at the property, including seven controlled drug purchases. Since 2002, LAPD has made approximately 10 arrests of gang members or their associates and recovered two firearms. There have also been numerous shootings at the property.