:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/01-02-2024/t_f7ffe53077d7431cb0f205cfd3a7889f_name_file_960x540_1200_v3_1_.jpg "South Side Entertainment Patrol made practically 100 arrests, issued over 600 citations since creation")
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PITTSBURGH — In the final six months of 2023, because the City started ramping up its South Side policing, Pittsburgh police introduced dozens of arrests and tons of of citations handed out.
The devoted group of officers on weekend nights was established over the summer season after a string of shootings alongside East Carson Street.
“Below 18th Street is like a war zone on the weekends,” mentioned Rich Cupka, the proprietor of Cupka’s Cafe 2 on East Carson Street.
Police say one arrest got here New Year’s Eve.
Since its inception, the South Side Entertainment Patrol reportedly made 91 arrests, recovered 18 weapons, and issued 629 non-traffic citations.
“There were five shots fired on 18th and Sidney,” Cupka mentioned, describing the incident.
Pittsburgh Police have beforehand reported that South Side incidents vary from gun violence and combating to drug use, public drunkenness and public urination, and extra.
“It’s just out of control,” mentioned Cupka. “You have 3,000 people doing just about whatever they want. In just over a year we’ve had just about every crime on East Carson Street, below 18th Street.”
Even with devoted weekend patrols, Cupka believes crime is just not happening.
He mentioned much more officers are wanted.
“You have to enforce the laws, you have to be there all the time, and you can’t stop,” Cupka defined.
According to Cupka, the state of the South Side is extra precisely informed by the variety of companies closed over the past 12 months.
Channel 11 reported back in June when Fudge Farm fudge and ice cream store closed as a result of rising crime.
In July, Carson City Saloon shut down for nearly two months due to safety concerns.
“The real state is not what the city is reporting,” Cupka mentioned. “If you walk down Carson Street right now, we have 26% of the businesses are vacant — 26% vacancies. We had 54 businesses close within the last year. If these stats that they’re putting out are true, why is everything closing down? Why is everyone leaving?”
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