Tango Blast holds convention on Lowest Greenville

For months, maybe years, BD has been chastised for using the term gangbangers and hoochie-mamas to describe the human garbage that tends to congregate on Lowest Greenville many weekends. The scumbars (the ones claiming to be restaurants but really are bars without kitchens) attract them with cheap drinks, trashy music and a make-a-buck anyway we can attitude. Thank goodness for Resident Parking Only, since it keeps this garbage off the residential streets.

Until this weekend, even the DPD danced around the issue. Yes, the Gang Unit made a few visits (and BD recognized many of these officers from his DPD classes), and no, they did not see a big gang issue. Yes, we have more fights and arrests for public intoxication on the south end of the strip (scumbars) than the north end (restaurants), but that's not a sign of trouble, really now.

This weekend, DPD finally got a sign this weekend, in the form of stars. Only these stars were tattooed on the bodies of members of the Texas prison gang Tango Blast (Google link). Think of it as a United Nations of Gangbangers, complete with rules of behavior, crossing borders and sharing the profits.

According to the Dallas Morning News in a story published last November ...

They tattoo themselves with Dallas Cowboys stars and the area code 214. They proudly proclaim "D-Town" and brag about their hometown affiliations on MySpace and YouTube.

The Tango Blast, a violent, drug-dealing gang born in the Texas prison system, is growing in popularity and could change the Dallas landscape because it rejects old notions of prison gang exclusivity and lifelong commitments.

Last night, these pieces of garbage decided to hold a convention on Lowest Greenville, with their diplomatic party taking place at Ibero Bar.

According to the DPD Lowest Greenville weekend report sent out at 5am this morning...

There were an extremely large number of individuals with gang related tattoos. The majority of the individuals wore tattoos of stars (Tango Blast) with white T-shirt and Dallas Cowboy Jerseys. [An officer with gang information] stated that Tango Blast members were supposed to be at Lower Greenville and may cause trouble.

The assistance of the Crime Response Team was requested to provide deterrence for criminal activity. The peace was maintained until close of business. Several officers overheard Latin males beginning to chant out loud outside the clubs. Officer quickly line up in front of the crowds and urged them to disperse.

Moments later, a fight broke out inside the Ibero Club. Officers attempted to gain entry to the club, but the doors were locked from the inside. Officers continued to try and gain entry until finally someone let them in. Five people were arrested from the location.

Ibero seems to have problems with its door locks. Last June, DPD officers observed after-hours partying at the same club. The DPD weekend report noted...

It was observed that Ibero (1905 Greenville) had patrons inside its establishment after 2:00 am. The DPD sergeant on Greenville Avenue for Friday evening made several attempts to get inside the bar, but the employees refused to open the door. Officers could see several people still inside the location drinking. Other officers observed employees letting people out the back door.

The bartender finally came outside and became confrontational with the DPD sergeant.

A citizen reported to the sergeant that Ibero's management waits for the officers to leave Greenville Avenue, then lets its patrons back inside after 2:00 am.

Ibero opened up as a restaurant nearly two years ago, but quickly became a bar when the owners realized they were not going to make the $5,000 per month rent selling food. The same management team operates Club 180, another location on the top of DPD's list of problem operations. Both clubs are owned by Alex Salinas, an insurance adjuster who is an alternate appointee (held over from Dr. Elba Garcia by Delia Jasso) to the City's Board of Adjustment. A complaint against Salinas - filed by BD - for violating the City's Ethics Code was dismissed by the Ethics Board without a hearing earlier this summer.

This is a developing story...