Gang "taxes" turn deadly

With a horde of cameras focusing in on them, a line of LAPD detectives joined with Chief William Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced Tuesday the department had cracked one of 2007's most brazen and chilling crimes -- a 23-day-old baby shot allegedly by 18th Street gang members trying to collect "taxes" from street vendors near MacArthur Park. (see entry below)

The crime gripped the mostly immigrant community, and took a throng of police and media attention to break the silence.

As a grip of cameras gathered on Tuesday for the press conference announcing the news, several Spanish language reporters kept turning back to the untold assaults, shakedowns and intimidation that continues in the neighborhood.

Did you know about these, one reporter asked.

Yes, was the answer.

It's not going to go away soon.

Last year, the LAPD reported extortion cases citywide were up 200 percent from 14 to 28.

But those are the reported crimes and some believe just the tip of the iceberg. Police know that many, many immigrants fearful of retaliation and of being deported, will not talk to cops, and others fear retaliation.