CAIRO — A recent outbreak of armed robberies against a specific ethnic group resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals, Cairo Police Department officials said Wednesday.

The suspects, six adults and five juveniles, all participated in criminal activities against members of Cairo’s Hispanic population, investigators said.

“As long as we’ve had a Hispanic population here, we have dealt with armed robberies and burglaries of their homes while they are at work,” Lt. Wandell Asbell, investigator, said. “We have definitely seen an increase in armed robberies this year. They started picking up in April and we’ve had more reports in the last couple of weeks.”

Asbell said there is nothing to indicate gang-related activity. No one was seriously injured, but some victims were treated by Grady County EMS at the scenes.

He did not have a specific tally of how much money was stolen — some of it was recovered — but said the incidents ranged from victims with no money to those with more than $600.

The first incident Asbell referenced occurred May 2 on Fourth Street Northeast, when a Hispanic male was approached by two black males with a handgun and was robbed at gunpoint.

Jarvis Jermaine Johnson and Sheddrick Bowden, both 17, were arrested and charged with aggravated assault and armed robbery.

On May 3, in the 800 block of Fifth Street Northeast, three Hispanic males were sitting in a yard when three black males approached them, Asbell said. They were armed with a machete and a handgun and robbed the men.

Suspects were located a few blocks away.

Jontavian Richardson, 23, Gary Addison Jr., 17, and Lester Harrell, 17, are each charged with three counts of aggravated assault, one count of armed robbery, two counts of attempted robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.

On Mother’s Day, at 10th Avenue and 11th Street Northeast, the investigator said two Hispanic males were walking down the street when they were approached by four black males armed with tree limbs and robbed.

Suspects and their vehicle were later spotted.

One adult, Devonte Carr, 17, and five juveniles — two 13, one 14, one 15, and one 16— were all arrested and charged with two counts of armed robbery and aggravated assault. The other two suspects were in the getaway car.

On May 7, a Hispanic man was beaten up but had no money, Asbell said. That assault is currently unsolved.

Another armed robbery on May 2 in the area of 10th Avenue and 11th Street Northeast, has only one arrest.

“A Hispanic male was approached by a group of black males with a tree limb, who beat him up and took his money,” Asbell said.

Harrell was positively identified as the suspect with the tree limb and is charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Asbell said victims are being asked to look at other suspects to see if any were involved in the unsolved incidents. Investigations are still ongoing.

All the juveniles — except for a 13-year-old released to parents — are being held at RYDC until their court dates, the investigator said.

The adults have been denied bond by magistrate court and are being held at Grady County Jail, awaiting the chance to go before a superior court judge.

Asbell said the CPD is concerned about this targeting of Hispanic males, who often do not use banks and carry their money on their person. Hispanic immigrants also sometimes hesitate on reporting crimes against them, Asbell said.

“People probably think it is easy money,” he said. “But, the only offense that carries a stiffer sentence in Georgia than armed robbery is murder.”