Cooper-Young Residents want to fight back against crime
By Kendra Harris/MicroMemphis Reporter
March 20, 2014
Some Cooper-Young residents are concerned with the increase in crime in the area. While they are not able to keep an eye on every street in the area, some residents are willing to fight back against their perpetrators.
Nearly 200 crimes have happened in a one-mile radius of the Cooper-Young intersection in the month of February, according to the Memphis Police Cyber Watch.
“My vehicle has been broken into twice, and I have been robbed at gun point by a teenager. I am honestly getting tired of it, and I feel it is getting out of control,” said Cherish Maggs, 23, of 931 Blythe St.
Maggs is a single mother of two boys, and she said she is concerned for her boys to go outside and play after dark, although she has never had anyone try to harm her children.
“We are doing all we can to keep this community safe. But we don’t have eyes and ears everywhere at all times,” said R. G. Houston, Memphis Police Commander in charge of the Crump station.
Molly Hart, 25, has encouraged her neighbors to fight back against their attackers.
“These are children for the most part that are attacking us if we show them fear they will always hold that over our heads,” Hart said.
Hart was held up by a suspect at gunpoint in October 2013, and the perpetrator demanded her wallet and cell phone. She refused and the suspect ran away. This was her second encounter with as person that attempted to rob her in January 2014
“I am tired of getting my hard working possessions taken from me by kids. I told him to back off and he got scared and ran away,” Hart said.
Hart said she was also afraid but refused to be taken advantage of again.
Maggs is encouraging all her neighbors to install lights and cut down bushes to create a better line of sight. Maggs purchased a gun to protect herself and children.
Houston said police are keeping close tabs on the Cooper-Young area, pointing out the department made recent arrests of suspects targeting Midtown. It is unknown if the arrests are linked to the Cooper-Young crimes.
“We will do our very best to keep the city of Memphis safe. Not just the Cooper-Young residents,” said Houston.
March 20, 2014
Some Cooper-Young residents are concerned with the increase in crime in the area. While they are not able to keep an eye on every street in the area, some residents are willing to fight back against their perpetrators.
Nearly 200 crimes have happened in a one-mile radius of the Cooper-Young intersection in the month of February, according to the Memphis Police Cyber Watch.
“My vehicle has been broken into twice, and I have been robbed at gun point by a teenager. I am honestly getting tired of it, and I feel it is getting out of control,” said Cherish Maggs, 23, of 931 Blythe St.
Maggs is a single mother of two boys, and she said she is concerned for her boys to go outside and play after dark, although she has never had anyone try to harm her children.
“We are doing all we can to keep this community safe. But we don’t have eyes and ears everywhere at all times,” said R. G. Houston, Memphis Police Commander in charge of the Crump station.
Molly Hart, 25, has encouraged her neighbors to fight back against their attackers.
“These are children for the most part that are attacking us if we show them fear they will always hold that over our heads,” Hart said.
Hart was held up by a suspect at gunpoint in October 2013, and the perpetrator demanded her wallet and cell phone. She refused and the suspect ran away. This was her second encounter with as person that attempted to rob her in January 2014
“I am tired of getting my hard working possessions taken from me by kids. I told him to back off and he got scared and ran away,” Hart said.
Hart said she was also afraid but refused to be taken advantage of again.
Maggs is encouraging all her neighbors to install lights and cut down bushes to create a better line of sight. Maggs purchased a gun to protect herself and children.
Houston said police are keeping close tabs on the Cooper-Young area, pointing out the department made recent arrests of suspects targeting Midtown. It is unknown if the arrests are linked to the Cooper-Young crimes.
“We will do our very best to keep the city of Memphis safe. Not just the Cooper-Young residents,” said Houston.