Self-professed gang leader arrested on parole violation

The man who calls himself the highest ranking member of the Rollin 40's Crip street gang is back behind bars after his arrest Tuesday for parole violation, Metro Police said.

Terrance D. Crutcher, 28, was arrested on a parole violation warrant stemming from an April 15 arrest on charges of felony cocaine possession within 1,000 feet of Buena Vista School, unlawful gun possession by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers encountered Crutcher in the 1500 block of Ninth Avenue North, where his Chevrolet Tahoe contained a loaded 9mm pistol in plain view, police said.

After police searched the car, they found 28 grams of cocaine and a digital scale with cocaine residue on it, according to reports.

Crutcher initially posted a $36,000 bond and was released.

However, Crutcher was on parole after being released from prison last July after serving four years of a 10-year cocaine sentence, police said.

"When word of the April arrest got to the parole board the parole violation warrant was issued against him," said Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron.

Crutcher was arrested on Fourth Avenue North after surveillance by the police department's Gang Unit confirmed that he was living with a girlfriend in that area, police said.

He now is being held without bond.

Crutcher told detectives that he has been associated with gang activity since he was in his early teens. He has been charged with 33 offenses by Metro officers since July 1997 with convictions for cocaine, robbery and weapons offenses, police said.