The introduction of the drug known as
"crack" or “rock”
cocaine in the early 1980’s, had a monumental impact on changing the
psyche of the Crip and Blood gangs. Crip versus Blood wars continued,
but the allure of making fast money selling drugs, such as “crack”, became the highest
priority. Members of both gangs, started selling “crack”.
The Crips and
Bloods utilized the same “selling” methods they had always used when they sold
other drugs such as PCP. Basically selling “crack” from street corners, parks, out of
vehicles, etc. As “Crack” caught on, the Bloods and Crips gang members were overwhelmed
at the demand. PCP had basically been just a “ghetto” drug, but “Crack”
was different. The Bloods and Crips members had difficulty “rocking” it fast enough to
keep up with the demand. “Crack” crossed all racial, economic and social
barriers. It was not only attractive in the “ghetto”, but it was
equally, if not more attractive, to those living in the suburbs. This
drug was an instant money maker for the gangs.
Gang
members tried to devise various methods of distributing the “Crack” to
accommodate the high volume of “customers”, without actually standing on
the local “street corner” risking arrest themselves. As a result, a new
phenomenon appeared in the South Central area. “Crack” Houses.
“Crack”
houses were homes that had been modified to meet the needs of the drug
dealers, plus be a place that would be easily accessible and convenient
for the drug buyer. The windows and doors of these houses were all
re-enforced with steel security bars. The front security screen door was
usually covered with a metal mesh sheet with small holes, and a mail
type slot. This allowed the dope dealer inside the house to see who was
coming to the front door. It also prevented the buyer from identifying
the actual person who was selling them the dope. The money and “Crack”
would be exchanged through the “mail slot”. Note: the drug suppliers
(gang leaders) themselves would never go into these houses for fear of
being arrested.
Generally
a few gang members would always be inside these houses. Their belief was
that a few extra gang members would offer greater protection for their
operation, plus if the house was ever raided by the police the dope
could be destroyed easier and faster. In addition, the extra bodies made
it more difficult for the police to identify the actual individual that
distributed the drugs through the door. This would also make any
potential prosecution a little more difficult.
Operating
a “Crack” house was a new learning experience for both gangs and law
enforcement. For law enforcement, the main problem was being able to
enter the house expeditiously, before the drugs were destroyed. For the
gang members, it was all about reducing the amount of cocaine that they
would lose if their house were raided.
Law
enforcement entry techniques developed through the trial and error
method. Every form of entry you could imagine was considered, and
sometimes utilized. From rubber wheeled tank type vehicles ramming
through the houses to vehicles with wenches pulling off the security
bars were just a few. Naturally all of these early methods took time to
set up and deploy. As a result they were basically ineffective, except
for partially destroying the homes which had usually been rented.
As soon as
gang members saw law enforcement setting up one of these types of
warrant operations in their neighborhood, warning whistles could be
heard throughout the area. The “Crack”, and the dealers were usually
gone by the time these operations were set up and implemented. Over time
entry techniques were developed that were reasonably stealth and very
effective. Some small entry teams could be in a fortified “Crack” house
in less than 30 seconds.
The gang
drug leaders would initially furnish the houses with enough “Crack” to
last a day or so. If law enforcement started to make entry they would
immediately start flushing the rock down the toilet. The problem gangs
encountered was that they could usually only flush one time, as the
water had normally been cut off by law enforcement. A number of “rock”
houses kept additional bottles of water on hand should this situation
occur, but this was very cumbersome.
As law
enforcement became more effective in their entry techniques, gang
members cut back the available supply of “crack” to just a couple of
hours to minimize any potential loss. They also found a better way of
disposing of the “crack”. They would keep a large pan of water boiling
on the stove. If law enforcement appeared, they would destroy the
“crack” by putting it into the boiling water.
By the
middle 1980’s the “Crack” house phenomenon was beginning to disappear.
Pagers were becoming the newest rage for the drug dealers. The pagers
opened up new methods and possibilities for distributing their “Crack”
cocaine. Almost every gang member had his own pager.
Other
noticeable changes begin occurring during this time frame. Drug
distribution “territories”, along with the Crip and Blood gangster
culture, started spreading throughout the city. Both Crips and Bloods
begin vying for some of this new “virgin” territory. This caused inter
gang violence to reach a fever pitch. Daily shootings became the norm.
Eventually, Blood and Crip drug leaders found a common bond that they
could all agree on. “Money”.
Some of
the gangs that were in the forefront of “Crack” distribution were
noticeably more visible, more powerful, and more dangerous. Money was
coming into these neighborhoods faster than the gang members could spend
it. Gang members bought everything from thoroughbred race horses, prize
winning hogs, jewelry, to custom low riders, etc. Money was no object.
A few of
these gangs were the:
Mob
Piru “Mob James”, “Country Al”, Johnsons, et. al
Wayne Day,
aka “Honcho” had also purchased his own pager service. Various Crip and
Blood gangs utilized his service. Most likely the Blood Gangs did not
realize the pager service was owned by their rival “Honcho”.
Gang
leaders, like “Honcho”, “Harry O”, McGill, McGowans, Johnsons, et. al,
had greater dreams. They could see the potential financial windfall that
they would reap if they were able to distribute Rock Cocaine throughout
the nation. They followed up on those dreams. They started capitalizing
on this lucrative nation wide drug distribution
venture by relocating “home boys” in the major cities across America.
They also knew the feared Los Angeles gang reputation would help them
over come any local neighborhood resistance.
While gang
members like “Honcho” were fulfilling their dreams of a nation wide
“crack” distribution ring other gang members, like “Easy E”, etc., who
had pockets full of drug money, wanted to be singing super stars. They
used their drug money to rent studio time to chase those dreams.
Numerous
other groups like “Eight Ball”, “NWA”, etc. also tried to break into the
entertainment field. “NWA” (niggars with attitudes) were Crip gangsters
from Compton. “NWA” was one of the first groups to be moderately
successful with their “anti-establishment” gangster lyrics. They were
also the forerunners of the successful Compton (Mob Piru, Atlantic Drive
Crips, etc.) gangster rappers that appeared on the scene in the 90’s.
A
nation wide “crack” distribution ring, the spread and proliferation of
the Crips and Bloods gangs throughout every major city in America, and
gangster rap was the legacy left by the “crack” dealing OG’s of the
1980’s.
Source:
Curtis Jackson, Los Angeles
Sheriff's Department, retired
