Forsyth deputies arrest five for gang graffiti

Forsyth County Sheriff's deputies have arrested five teens for allegedly tagging Latino gang symbols throughout the county.

The teens — two 16-year-olds and three 17-year-olds – are all Cumming residents. Two attend Forsyth County schools, said Capt. Frank Huggins, a Sheriff's Office spokesman. The identities and photos of the three 17-year-olds have been released, but it is Appen Newspapers Inc.'s policy to not release the name of any under 18 accused of a crime.

All were arrested Nov. 17 and have been charged with numerous gang-related crimes, including participation in a criminal street gang, a felony.

According to Capt. Ron Freeman, Commander of the Sheriff's Office South Precinct, the arrests are the culmination of an investigation into more than a dozen incidents of vandalism, many of which involved gang-related graffiti.

Huggins said the vandalism occurred in South Forsyth County and in the city of Cumming over a week-long period in late October and early November. Some of the vandalized locations included Forsyth Central High School, several shopping centers and a local skating rink.

Freeman said the break in the case came when deputies from the Sheriff's Office North Precinct made contact with a car containing suspected gang related paraphernalia at a safety checkpoint. Members of the Precinct's Sheriff's Office Aggressive Response (S.O.A.R.) team were able to identify the occupants and subsequently matched those suspects to the vandalism, said Huggins.

Four of the five arrested have confirmed ties to known gangs, Freeman said.

Freeman called the arrests a significant step in making preemptive strikes on gang activity in Forsyth County and said he hopes they send a clear message interested in gangs.

Freeman added the Sheriff's Office was significantly assisted by the city of Cumming Police Department and the Forsyth County Board of Education.

Two of the 17-year-olds and both 16-year olds are charged with one count of participation in a criminal street gang and 11 counts of second degree criminal damage to property, all of which are felonies. All four are also charged with one count of criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.

The other 17-year-old is also charged with six counts of second degree criminal damage to property and one count of criminal trespass.

No bond has been set for the three 17-year-olds, who are being held in the Forsyth County Adult Detention Center. The 16-year-olds were released to their parents.
- www.northfulton.com

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