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Vigilante justice?
02/28/2003
By Jeff McShan / 11 News
HOUSTON (KHOU) -- For weeks, several residents at the Glen Willow apartments in southwest Houston say they've been victims of serious crimes.
"He took his gun out and put it on her head," said one resident.
Another woman, who is pregnant, says she was robbed and push to the ground.
On another day, another woman claims she was assaulted too.
It scared her.
"Very much. She was afraid for her daughter. She was with her at the time," said apartment manager Anna Gutierrez.
Every time a crime happens here, Gutierrez says they call police.
"I've been calling them everyday… constantly."
But she says nothing is done.
So last week, when one man was robbed and nearly beaten to death, Gutierrez says residents took matters into their own hands.
They began to stay up late, waiting for the suspects to return.
And when the suspects came back, the gates were closed behind them.
"By the time the suspects realized it, they had quite a lot of people around them," said Gutierrez.
Approximately 60, many with guns.
Witnesses say the suspects were begging for their lives.
They also say the suspects were assaulted and their car was vandalized.
"We're not going to wait unit we find another dead body on property before the police take action and do what they're supposed to do… their job," said resident Victor Aguado.
"We're not proud of it. It wasn't the most right thing to do. But when we're tired of it and you have no other choice, what can you do," said Gutierrez.
Both suspects were arrested.
One was charged with robbery.
The other was released..
And that upsets them even more.
The apartment complex has filed a complaint against the Houston police department that says officers weren't doing their jobs.
Internal Affairs is looking into the allegation.
02/28/2003
By Jeff McShan / 11 News
HOUSTON (KHOU) -- For weeks, several residents at the Glen Willow apartments in southwest Houston say they've been victims of serious crimes.
"He took his gun out and put it on her head," said one resident.
Another woman, who is pregnant, says she was robbed and push to the ground.
On another day, another woman claims she was assaulted too.
It scared her.
"Very much. She was afraid for her daughter. She was with her at the time," said apartment manager Anna Gutierrez.
Every time a crime happens here, Gutierrez says they call police.
"I've been calling them everyday… constantly."
But she says nothing is done.
So last week, when one man was robbed and nearly beaten to death, Gutierrez says residents took matters into their own hands.
They began to stay up late, waiting for the suspects to return.
And when the suspects came back, the gates were closed behind them.
"By the time the suspects realized it, they had quite a lot of people around them," said Gutierrez.
Approximately 60, many with guns.
Witnesses say the suspects were begging for their lives.
They also say the suspects were assaulted and their car was vandalized.
"We're not going to wait unit we find another dead body on property before the police take action and do what they're supposed to do… their job," said resident Victor Aguado.
"We're not proud of it. It wasn't the most right thing to do. But when we're tired of it and you have no other choice, what can you do," said Gutierrez.
Both suspects were arrested.
One was charged with robbery.
The other was released..
And that upsets them even more.
The apartment complex has filed a complaint against the Houston police department that says officers weren't doing their jobs.
Internal Affairs is looking into the allegation.
