IMPD: 7 arrested after months-long investigation into criminal organization

INDIANAPOLIS — Seven people were arrested on Tuesday following a months-long investigation by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from several local, state and federal agencies.

According to a news release on IMPD’s social media, the seven men face preliminary charges related to firearms and narcotics, including:

• Possession and dealing of a controlled substance
• Possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon
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• Participation in a criminal organization

Court documents indicate that the following individuals are the suspects who were taken into custody:

• Alexander Mendoza, 18
• Erick Amaro Lozano, 18
• Jasiel Cruz-Avina, 20
• Austin Juarez Garcia, 21
• Ernesto DeJesus Casas, 28
• Juan Rodriguez Gardea, 26
• Bryan Rodriguez, 23

Officials said that over the course of several months, detectives with the department’s violent crimes task force identified a group of people who were reportedly a part of a criminal organization. The release said those individuals reportedly participated in drug trafficking, possessed multiple illegal firearms and were involved in “several violent incidents” in the area.

On Tuesday morning, detectives, along with law enforcement from Fishers, Carmel, the FBI and the Indiana State Police, served multiple search warrants at homes throughout Indianapolis. The release said that during the searches, the following items were found:

• Seven firearms
• Around 2.5 pounds of cocaine
• Around 195 grams of pressed narcotic pills
• Around seven pounds of marijuana
• $18,640 in U.S. currency

“This operation’s success is a direct result of the dedication and collaboration among our state, local, and federal partners,” IMPD Chief Bailey said in the release. “Through our collective efforts, we removed seven violent individuals from our streets, making Indianapolis safer. I want to personally thank every agency involved, including the Fishers Police Department, Carmel Police Department, Indiana State Police, FBI and our IMPD officers, for their commitment to justice and public safety.”

The release read that several of the people who were arrested are also being investigated for their “potential roles in the vandalisms involving graffiti on IMPD’s southwest district.” The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decisions.