Operation Nightwatch Results in 3 Gang Arrests

Nassau police and probation officers arrested three gang members earlier this month while checking up on members of two rival gangs, the Bloods and Crips, during Operation Nightwatch.

Bryant Eaddy, Darius Malone and Merlyn Benitez

Officers from both agencies conducted 22 visits to nine known Bloods and 13 known Crips in Roosevelt to check if they were in compliance with the terms of their probation on Feb. 4. In addition to the arrests, officers seized two loaded handguns, more than 1.5 lbs. of marijuana, $19,230 cash, four counterfeit $20 bills and one gravity knife.

Those who allegedly violated the terms of their probation include Darius Malone, a Blood, who was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument for the counterfeit money. He also had seven small bags of marijuana, police said.

Bryant Eaddy, a Crip, was charged with two counts criminal possession of a weapon after officers said they found a loaded 9 mm Kel Tec pistol and a gravity knife. Officers also recovered 1.5 lbs. of marijuana, a scale, packaging material and $1,255, police said. He was also charged with criminal possession marijuana.

Merlyn Benitez, a Crip, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon after officers said they found loaded Smith & Wesson .38 revolver and $17,975 cash.

Benitez has a long history of serious arrests, including drug possession and sale, weapons possession, assault, driving while ability impaired by drugs, resisting arrest, burglary and trespassing, police said.

During the recent arrest, he refused to open a locked safe, which is in violation of probation, police said. The safe was seized and a searched after a warrant was issued.