Detroit Police redeploy patrols after bloody, deadly day

DETROIT (AP) -- Responding to a bloody weekend that saw 15 people shot and six killed in a string of attacks during a 24-hour span, Detroit's police chief on Monday announced a program to put more officers on the street and focus patrols when and where they're most needed. The redeployment program is being called Operation Inside Out: Night Angels, Chief Ralph Godbee said in a news release. The department also will increase the overall number of officers on patrol to achieve the goal of "providing maximum saturation coverage and intelligence led pro-active patrol throughout the city of Detroit," Godbee said. He said the program is in keeping with "Mayor Dave Bing's goal to create a safer city for our residents and visitors." The changes include the use of 12-hour shifts to provide "saturated patrols ... in the neighborhoods," department spokeswoman Sgt. Eren Stephens told The Associated Press. Godbee told WDIV-TV earlier in the day that changes could double the number of officers on the streets during the typically busy period of the day for police between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Police say the shootings happened at nine locations between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, and come amid an increase in homicides from last year. Among the slain was a 40-year-old man who died at a hospital after being shot and crashing at high speed into a pole Friday evening, police said. The others killed in the 24-hour span included a 16-year-old boy and four men ages 21, 35, 36 and 38. Charges have been brought in one case. Wayne County prosecutors said Monday that Antwan Labron Chase, 46, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and possessing a firearm in a felony in the shootings early Saturday of 35-year-old Delrico Henley and 38-year-old Bradford Walton, both of Detroit. Prosecutors say an argument ensued over a dice game at a home and Chase returned with a handgun and shot the men. Chase also was shot and treated at a local hospital, authorities said. A message was left with the prosecutor seeking information on an arraignment for Chase or whether he had a lawyer. The same weekend, prosecutors charged Marco Germaine Miner, 18, with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 14-year-old friend Dontavius Jones. Detroit police say the teens were playing with a gun when it accidentally fired on Saturday. It also wasn't immediately clear if Miner, who also was charged with manslaughter and felony firearm, had a lawyer. Published: Wed, Aug 17, 2011