PHOTO/TROY HULL

Children joined the Hidden Valley community’s parade and festival last week to mark the neighborhood’s recovery from drugs and crime.

Ella Williams has been living in the Hidden Valley community of Charlotte for around 44 years. She first realized the community had a problem when her two teenage sons were robbed at gun point for their jackets and tennis shoes.

“Previously we would leave home and often times forget to lock the door,” Williams said. “Then we realized those days were over.”

Later, her home was broken into. Williams’ husband was an avid hunter in those days, so most of what was stolen were weapons, as well as some clothing and shoes.
According to Williams’ son Lindsay, it was not uncommon to hear gunshots and sirens throughout night.

“You would see groups of young men wearing gang colors hanging out at all hours of the night … and young girls scantily dressed that appear to be prostitutes,” he said.
Until 2007, Williams and the other residents of Hidden Valley were under the thumb of a notorious gang called the Hidden Valley Kings. But after a joint effort between the community, police, and other Charlotte officials, the community was able to come together on Saturday to celebrate the gang’s demise.

On Saturday, the Hidden Valley Community Association hosted its annual parade and festival, with an emphasis on celebrating the neighborhood’s victory over the Hidden Valley Kings. The event’s theme was “From Gangs to Greatness.” The parade started at the Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church on Sugar Creek Road and ended at Hidden Valley Elementary School on Snow White Lane, where the festival took place.

According to Lindsay Williams, about 250 people attended the festival to play games, sample food and dance while a DJ played music.

“(It was) kind of like a family reunion type of thing where people who hadn’t seen others, like neighbors, for a while were like, ‘Hey! How are you?’” Williams said.

Dana Washington, deputy director of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western district, was the event’s keynote speaker. He spoke about the office’s plan to build a bridge with the community and the importance of residents being able to see attorneys and prosecutors in environments other than the courtroom.

Williams said the Attorney’s Office wants to be seen “as people who are there to help and provide opportunities and not just to incarcerate people.”

Ella Williams, president of the community association, said the festivities celebrated how far the community has come.

“What happened on Saturday was a celebration of a community that has grown past crime, gangs and violence to where we are now – a community of peace. A community that feels safe,” she said.

The Hidden Valley Kings were known for their overt violence and intimidation tactics, which was highlighted on Discovery Channel’s “Gangland” documentary. The gang controlled the sale of drugs in the neighborhood, robbed people and businesses, broke into homes and stole cars, according to an article on the PoliceOne website.

The HVKs were also known for more serious violence, like a shooting at Eastland Mall in 2005, where shots were fired in the food court, and killing rival gang members and gang associates who did not follow their rules.

In 2007, after a joint effort between residents and law enforcement, 20 HVK members and associates were indicted on drug related charges. A 2013 injunction signed by Richard Bonner, Mecklenburg Superior Court judge, also made it illegal for the HVKs to congregate in any way.

Now, Lindsay Williams said gunshots would be out of the norm. He said the residents continue to keep gang activity out of the community by keeping eyes out for suspicious activities. The community association encourages residents to call police tip lines if they see anything.

“The association’s really big on keeping the lines of communication open between residents, elected officials, the police and everyone involved in the partnership,” he said.

Ella Williams said she believes other communities having problems need to let go of the animosity they feel toward the police and work with them to find solutions and stop the violence.

“There’s nothing you can’t solve if you work together,” she said.

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