A gang crackdown organized by Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson continued in Selma and Dallas County last weekend resulting in more arrests of suspected gang members.

According to Larry Colston, commander of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, the task force made around 11 arrests while sweeping areas like Selmont, Craig Field, Keller Alley and other areas in Selma that are known for gang activity.

“We hit a lot of the areas in Selma, and we went out to Selmont and Craig Field. We went into Keller Alley and Selma Square,” Colston said. “We went to a lot of places, but we were mainly concentrating on the Craig Field and Selmont area. That is where we’ve been having all the problems at.”

The most notable arrest was of 38-year-old Maurice Odell Brown. Brown was arrested Friday night in Keller Alley. Brown was in possession of a gun and was charged with being forbidden to carry a firearm and violating his probation.

“He’s one of the biggest gangsters we got this weekend. He’s got a long criminal history,” Colston said. “He’s been pretty rough in the past. We arrested him, and he was on federal probation and state probation.”

According to court records, Brown has a rap sheet that includes attempted murder, robbery and assault, along with kidnapping and other charges.

“Maurice Brown is one of the biggest gunslingers in Selma, and he’s a multi-convicted felon,” Jackson said. “He’s been to federal prison, so we’re glad to get him off the street. We made sure there was a hold place on him so he can’t get out.”

Brown was given a $100,000 bond, but a hold has been placed on him to keep him in custody at the Dallas County Jail.

According to Colston, the task force confiscated around six handguns and one assault rifle during it’s weekend sweep, which started Friday.

“They got a lot of dangerous weapons off the street,” Jackson said. “Every time there is a gun off of the street, that is one less person that is likely to be shot in the future, so that is a big plus.”

Others that were arrested on gun charges were 38-year-old Montell Pettway, 38-year-old Anthony Crusoe and 21-year-old Alexander Burton. They each had weapons confiscated and were charged with carrying a pistol without a permit.

Two other suspected gang members were arrested in possession of marijuana. Latoya Denise Ellis, 30, and Leon Billingsley, 47, were charged with second-degree possession of marijuana.

Others arrested were 28-year-old Marvin Eaton on a city warrant for driving under the influence, 48-year-old Clarence Neeley on a city warrant for third-degree assault, 19-year-old ChKina Demecia Hatcher on a city warrant for criminal trespassing, 28-year-old Kenneth Billingsley for failure to appear for the city and Rickey E. Webster on a failure to appear for the city.

The task force was organized in March and performed several sweeps that resulted in multiple arrests, but due to recent shootings the task force has increased its efforts.

“It is going to be an ongoing process. You don’t cure these kind of deals over night,” Jackson said.

“We’re starting to make a lot of progress. Citizens are talking about how things are a lot quieter now, but the sweeps are going to be ongoing. This is going to go on a while. We’re going to keep the pressure up. We’re going to run all of these gangs out of town.”