Dallas police say an alleged lock-changing hustle at a Forest Lane apartment complex came to an abrupt end last Wednesday, when the department’s Homeless Outreach Team and Northeast Patrol officers swept through a cluster of vacant units and cleared them out in one coordinated move.
Officers descended on the complex in the 9600 block of Forest Lane, where investigators say a suspect had been changing locks on empty apartments and charging people to stay there. In a tightly timed operation, officers simultaneously cleared 11 vacant units and took the primary suspect into custody without incident. Inside, they reported finding a large machete, a glass pipe, and a plastic fake firearm. The case was logged under number 00658-2026.
Arrests and evidence
According to the Dallas Police Department, officers arrested 50-year-old William Reed on a charge of criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor. They also arrested 41-year-old Jasmine Landrum on multiple counts, including criminal trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia. The department said Landrum was additionally booked on a tamper-with-or-fabricate-physical-evidence charge, which is a third-degree felony.
After the sweep, property management moved quickly to secure the vacant apartments. Officers stayed on site while new locks were installed and confirmed the complex was locked down again.
What the HOT team does
The Homeless Outreach Team, or HOT, is built to do more than just show up with handcuffs. The unit focuses on building rapport with people living in encampments and connecting them to services before situations escalate to enforcement. NBC 5 reported that the six-person pilot team works alongside code enforcement and emergency services and sometimes takes people into custody when individuals refuse to leave or have outstanding warrants.
Department message
Assistant Chief Richard Foy told the Dallas Police Department that the operation was an example of how the department is trying to blend specialty units with patrol officers in a more strategic way. “We are finding innovative ways to work collaboratively across our department,” he said, adding that combining patrol manpower with the HOT team’s resources lets officers “be more creative” in how they intervene and head off nuisance crimes before they become bigger problems.
The department framed the Forest Lane sweep as part of a broader effort to protect both residents and property by using targeted enforcement when outreach is not enough.
Legal stakes
Under Texas law, FindLaw notes that tampering with or fabricating physical evidence is a third-degree felony, carrying a potential sentence of two to ten years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. FindLaw also explains that criminal trespass is typically prosecuted as a Class B misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code §30.05, while simple possession of drug paraphernalia is usually a Class C misdemeanor under the state’s Health and Safety Code.
Because the tampering allegation is a felony, prosecutors could have a more serious case on their hands if the available evidence supports that charge.
Next steps
The department said Northeast neighborhood officers will continue working with property management to prevent more improvised rentals and similar illegal activity at the complex. The investigation remains active, and residents with information about what was happening inside the vacant units are encouraged to contact local police. No further injuries were reported during the sweep.
