Friday, May 16, 2008
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Published Saturday, May 03, 2008
Photo by Amy Lott
Possible Hispanic gang graffiti reading “Southside 13” was spray-painted on one local business on Farmer Street in March. These “taggings” used to claim territory have preceded instances of further criminal activity in other Georgia cities, from Atlanta to Athens.
Graffiti could be tied to activities of gang
By Amy Lott
The Times-Herald
Newnan Police Department officials say they are concerned by the appearance of spray-painted, apparent gang-related graffiti on area businesses during the past few months -- but note that no further criminal activity has been linked to the defacement.
Deputy Chief Rodney Riggs of the Newnan Police Department said the recent graffiti "tags" -- the majority seeming to identify a violent street gang known as "Surenos-13" linked to crimes such as racketeering, murder, carjacking and drug dealing in Gwinnett County -- "may be suggestive of a Hispanic gang in the area."
In early March, the defacement of three businesses and rental properties were reported in a cluster to the northeast of downtown Newnan: phrases "Westside," "Rintin's 13" and "Southside 13" and symbols "Sur 13" and "R 13" were spray-painted at 35 Sutherland Drive, graffiti reading "Rintin's Southside 13" was found on a rental property at 41 Farmer St., and a "Southside 13" tag appeared at 21 Bullsboro Drive.
In addition to the graffiti found in March, a business at 91 Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd. reported similar defacement last month, and these are just the documented instances.
More taggings featuring variations on "13," "Southside 13" and "Sur 13" have been spotted around town on warehouses, bridges and utility boxes.
Gangs often use graffiti taggings to claim territory, but Riggs said no turf wars have erupted here.
"We're not to the point where we have gangs fighting each other," he said. "No criminal activity has been associated with the taggings besides the taggings themselves."
Riggs said the Newnan Police Department is investigating these incidents and taking steps to prevent escalation.
"We have one officer tasked with gathering gang intelligence," he said. Other police personnel on the lookout for gang activity funnel information to that officer.
Gang activity -- while a new development to Newnan -- has been a problem in other Georgia cities for some time. In Gwinnett County, Sur-13 members have been responsible for a number of violent crimes, including murder. In 2005, a task force consisting of the United States Attorney's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement was formed to assist local authorities.
Athens has also seen its share of gang-related violence -- drive-by shootings have been linked to a Sur-13 member as recently as June 2007.
The Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, put into effect in 2006 by the Georgia General Assembly, stiffens penalties for gang-related crime. Four members of the Sur-13/Surenos-13 gang were sentenced in February to life without the possibility of parole for prior murder convictions.
Police hope such criminal activity will not become an issue in Newnan.
"We plan to stay on top of it," Riggs said. "There is a reason to be concerned because of the violence that can be associated with [graffiti]. ... That has not been the case here."