Guardian Angels Consult on Cutting Deep Ellum Crime

Dallas Police Release Surveillance Video of Two Suspects in Recent Attack

This weekend the Deep Ellum Neighborhood Association will try an experiment of sorts, consulting with the Guardian Angels about how residents can do citizen patrols to help cut a recent spike in crime.

"To see it is that we are going to be able to learn from them," explained Catherine Jacobus, who owns Stonedeck Pizza. "And start organizing a patrol ourselves." 

The optics of the Guardian Angels stand out. They wear red berets. Jacobus said nothing has been ruled out for when Deep Ellum residents start patrolling.

"I don't think it's a matter of us objecting to that," Jacobus said. "If that's something that maybe we will do for a period of a few weekends, for example, in order for a level of awareness to take place and make a statement on the street that you're not welcome down here if you're not welcome down here."  

Earlier this week, Dallas Police released surveillance video of two men who investigators believe sexually assaulted a woman in Deep Ellum on Sept. 18.

Police said the victim was approached by two men with a gun who grabbed and sexually assaulted her on the 3300 block of Elm Street.

The first suspect is described as an 18-year-old black male, 5 feet 6 inches tall with a skinny build. He has short curly hair, last seen wearing a dark gray T-shirt and black shorts with white socks. The second suspect is described as a shorter black male, last seen wearing a T-shirt, black shorts and a black baseball cap.

"We've had a such a quiet summer with all of this stuff. This has just been kind of a, 'We got hit out of nowhere kind of thing.' After-hours is always dangerous for anybody," said Deep Ellum Foundation executive director Jessica Burnham. "We need to take extra precaution."

Since Aug. 1, there have been four reported incidents that involved a man with a gun, who allegedly robbed people walking home. No arrests have been made, but Burnham said police have good leads.

"We need to make sure we have the best lighting, cameras and locks. We're pushing property owners to improve all of that as much as they can," said Burnham.

The Deep Ellum Foundation hired extra off-duty officers to patrol on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The officers are patrolling on foot. DPD's Central Division has also deployed extra manpower to watch the area.

"The more eyes on the street, the better," said Burnham. "We've found some of the incidents that have happened are when there haven't been anybody around."

On Saturday night, Deep Ellum neighborhood leaders will walk the area with the leader of the Guardian Angels to point out the trouble areas they know, and get advice on how they can start patrolling themselves. 

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