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September 14, 2005
Police Try To Identify Registered Sex Offenders Among Evacuees
Authorities Estimate 4,000 Sex Offenders From Gulf Now In Texas
DALLAS -- Dallas police are concerned that among the storm survivors taking shelter in North Texas are some sex offenders that could be hiding in the open.
The Dallas Police Department has the facilities to register sex offenders who are evacuees in order to make sure they stay in compliance, but so far only three registered sex offenders at Reunion Arena and the convention center have come forward to report to the local police.
"It's very good, because New Orleans police weren't trying to do anything at all. Nothing at all," evacuee Arielle Earl said.
The Dallas Police Department child exploitation unit is trying to find out information that metal detectors cannot.
"We've got a number of detectives that are comparing various lists of sex offenders to a number of lists of evacuees," said Sr. Cpl. Max Geron, of the Dallas police.
Police estimate that there could be as many as 4,000 sex offenders who came to North Texas
"We've had three voluntarily come forward that are registered sex offenders and have come to us and said, 'Hey, I want to comply.' So, three out of several thousand -- they got their work cut out for them," Geron said.
Evacuees expressed concern that there were sex offenders among them.
"They have a lot of young children and elderly people in there, and they don't need to be around that," evacuee Cynthia Richardson said.
Edna Banks is staying at Reunion Arena with her young son and a dozen other relatives.
"I'm very confident in the job they are doing thus far," Banks said.
"We're trying to do everything we can to, number one, maintain the security and safety of the folks that are in the shelters and, two, get the identified sex offenders that can't be with children out and into other facilities," Geron said.
A Dallas Police Department spokesperson said they do not want to put anyone out on the streets, but they do want to make sure sex offenders are in a secure facility and not a dormitory-style situation.
Posted by Nealus at September 14, 2005 12:11 PM
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