HAMMOND | Eight people were arrested in a weekend sweep by police through a North Hammond area struggling through a summer increase in gang and drug violence.

The operation by 24 Hammond officers and six from the East Chicago Police Gangs and Narcotics Unit fanned out through the Tree Streets neighborhood -- Cedar, Pine, Oak, Ash, Hickory and Elm avenues -- around Hoffman Street.

Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller said the sweep was in response to the shooting death of an East Chicago man in the 100 block of Gostlin Street a week earlier.

No arrests have yet been made in the killing of Robert Vasquez, 23, but detectives said Friday their investigation has led to possible suspects.

Five men were arrested between Friday and Saturday on outstanding warrants in the sweep, and another person was taken into custody on a disorderly conduct charge, Miller said.

Two 17-year-olds, one of whom is from East Chicago, were also arrested on charges of possession of cocaine and marijuana.

The sweep was well received by residents, some of whom thanked police and asked that similar actions be conducted in the future, Miller said.

"We thought it was highly successful," Miller said. "We'll do it again in the next couple of weeks."

The names of those arrested were not released pending the filing of charges, which could come as early as today.