The Investigators

Dart Rails Plagued By Juvenile Crime

By Todd Bensman and Robert Riggs
The Investigators
CBS-11 News

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit system has worked to cultivate a polished, corporate image of an expanding light rail network that is safe, secure and clean. But a three-month investigation of crime on the DART rails by CBS 11 shows a gritty reality at sharp variance with that public image.

An examination of public records and interviews with 19 police officers show that DART has become a battle ground for roving gangs of youths who intimidate and assault passengers, disturb the peace and sometimes commit heinous crimes. Gangs of kids take over rail cars and savage them with rocks and fists. Alternative school children, whose passes are paid for by the Dallas Independent School District, fight turf wars on moving trains and at stations. Youths have terrorized the elderly, sick and weak, according to records backed by interviews with passengers and police.

"These kids are drug smokin', cursin, foulin', half-dressin', talking bad, getting put off the bus. You name it you just about see it all here," said Lester Fowler, a 74-year-old retiree who rides the rails daily.

Almost everyone CBS 11 has interviewed, including juveniles and random passengers, acknowledge that youth-generated crime and disturbances throughout the DART rail system is a major problem.

And, while reporting this story, CBS 11 News witnessed two incidents involving young people that drew a police response. One 19-year-old suspected of dealing drugs to alternative school kids at the Dallas Zoo station led police on a lengthy foot chase before he was arrested at gunpoint.

Presented with CBS 11's findings about youth, DART Police Chief Juan Rodriguez denied that youth crime, or crime in general, has been a problem.

"We don't have a crime problem," Chief Rodriguez said. "We have a safe system."

Chief Rodriguez's perception apparently is not shared by many of his subordinates on the streets, nor by some DART board members. Two DART board members, responding to citizen complaints, grew so concerned they recently met with Dallas school officials to explore whether the district could help with the problem. The DART board members were told DISD could not help, one DISD official said.

All 19 police officers interviewed by CBS 11 enthusiastically volunteered, with little or no prompting, that youth-generated crime is a top problem on the rails and that that they can't contain it because they are short-staffed.

"They curse. They talk loud. They fight...every day. This is every day," DART Police Officer Norma Gonzalez emphasized.

One sweating, out-of-breath officer who helped arrest the suspected drug dealer spontaneously commented to a CBS-11 photojournalist: "This is DART, every day. We don't have enough officers."

Currently, 146 DART officers cover 45 miles of rail, 130 bus routes, and all HOV lanes in 13 cities spread over 700 square miles. Of the 146 officers, about 70 are assigned to patrol the rails.

Officer Chris Hunt, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 80, said DART has not filled more 30 vacant positions left open from high rates of turnover caused by low pay and bad morale. He said at least 70 more officers are needed to control crime rates that have risen steadily every year since DART opened in 1996. Between January 2004 and February of this year, more than 3,700 crimes were reported at DART rail stations alone. Another 1,142 crimes were reported on moving trains, records show.

"They are trying their best with the manpower they have to quell the problem, but sometimes the lack of manpower sort of hinders us," Hunt said. "We have a problem retaining people more than we have in hiring them. Officers go to other agencies."

Chief Rodriguez, who was the first officer hired by DART and is retiring in February, said the department has enough police officers to meet public safety needs now and would only consider adding new officers as rail expansions require.

CBS 11 has learned that much of the juvenile crime is caused by students of alternative and charter schools near rail stations. Wearing colored t-shirts and DISD identification badges, students typically congregate in noisy, frightening crowds before and after school at stations. Much of the violence, disturbances and crimes against other passengers occurs on the platforms but tends to move with the students as they fan out across the rail system. CBS 11 has identified the five most crime-ridden DART stations and has been told that juvenile crime is behind the numbers.

They are the West Transit Center on San Jacinto Street, the West End on Pacific and Ackard, CityPlace on North Central Expressway and Lemmon, the 8th and Corinth station, and Mockingbird Station, the system's crown jewel. Several years of police call sheets obtained through the Texas Public Information Act help illustrate the problem. They include frequent references to crimes committed by youths, among them:

-- "Daughters...attacked by 15 young ladies...a problem at this location daily after school."

-- "About 7-8 boys...harassed customer and attempted to rape her..."

-- "Jumped by teens...elderly patrons are scared."

-- "..A group of teenaged boys robbed and assaulted caller's husband..."

-- "A group of about 30 teenagers got off the train and had a boombox that was on really loud. Several followed customer and an elderly lady as they walked away...harassed customer and the elderly lady...asked for money then became hostile when customer said he had none."

-- "…There were kids that threw rocks and shattered a light rail window…a lady was hit in the head and bled.."

-- "…About 15 students from the Dallas Can Academy Fighting at the Pearl Station…"

-- "…constant problem…students are harassing patrons…"


The same records show that passengers are demanding more police.


-- "...Where's transit? Transit police weren't available Friday, Saturday or Sunday..."

-- "Request more transit police during the morning rush hours and after school dismissals."

-- "Caller attacked by a group of youth...requesting additional transit police presence..."

-- "Hispanic male teen was assaulted by several black youths...more security is needed at station..."

-- "High school student was assaulted...there weren't any transit police around..."

One DART station was so problematic that police four months ago secretly implemented a highly unusual program to control students. CBS 11 discovered the program by accident during the course of its investigation. Students from several alternative schools who were being bused to the Dallas Zoo station caused so much havoc that eight police officers now greet them each day at about 3:30 p.m.

The police officers then herd up to 50 or 60 students at a time onto the first rail car and board along with them. The officers segregate non-student riders and direct them to other cars, including CBS 11 investigative producer Todd Bensman. When asked why, an officer responded, with a wink: "It's safer."

Chief Rodriguez denied passengers were being segregated from students in any special enforcement program for children but acknowledged, "we have more officers around because we have extra passengers loading." He said the effort was only to "help" students reach their destinations.

"We have a safe system. Our officers are there for the protection of the public," Chief Rodriguez said. "

But Dennis Meeks does not think so. Last month, Meeks was randomly shot while waiting for a train at DART's Forest Lane station.

"We heard a loud bang from the area over there just to the west and I was shot in the side," he said, showing a bullet wound that passed through his side from front to back. "People scattered and everyone was looking for a place to hide or go."

The shot came from a nearby gas station frequented by young people. No assailant has been caught. Meeks has recovered from his painful gunshot wound but says his perception of the system as a gleaming, safe new citizen asset is forever changed.

"The DART system's good. But they need some more people working here to protect the people," he said. "If there's going to be that sort of stuff going on, then people should be safe."

To comment on this story, please email: Todd Bensman or Robert Riggs

(CBS 11)