More graffiti and few answers
By Andy Gates | Argus Observer
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 12:04 PM PDT
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| Julie Engel | Argus Observer
Fences, buildings, cars, garages and sheds were recently smacked by gang-related graffiti, and Ontario police took 24 reports over the weekend and on Monday associated with the spree. Private property along an alleyway between Northwest Fifth Street and Northwest Sixth Street was hit hard, police have said. Area police are still searching for suspects in the case. |
ONTARIO - Ontario police said gangs may be to blame for a whopping 24 cases of graffiti vandalism reported during the weekend and on Monday.
The widespread vandalism inconvenienced property owners and left police searching for suspects. So far, they've arrested or cited no one in connection to the crimes. Some of the hardest hit areas in town included alleyways between Northwest Fifth Street and Northwest Sixth Street - where 16 graffiti cases were reported after 3 a.m. Sunday involving fences, garages, sheds and vehicles, Ontario Police Department Capt. Mark Alexander said.
Police took reports for 20 cases between Saturday and Sunday, Alexander said, and the four cases reported Saturday involved the area of North Oregon Street.
Police also took reports Monday morning from four businesses in the southwest part of town, Alexander said.
Red, silver and white paint was used to deface property with words associated with an area gang, Alexander said, including “SUR 13” (surianos), “East side” and “BMC” (brown magic clique).
Police have said two gang syndicates hold sway locally, the 13th Street and the 18th Street gangs. Alexander said the graffiti was likely applied by more than one person from a local gang, and gang officers are now assisting with the cases.
Since an ordinance to designate gang members recently passed through the Ontario City Council and became effective, police have dispersed 29 letters to people asserting they are criminal gang affiliates, Alexander said.
Police are not clear why the prevalence of graffiti cases has surged in town, Alexander said.
“We don't know what this could be indicating, but there's increased activity going on,” Alexander said. “We'd like to get that stopped.”
Ontario police also took six graffiti reports Thursday, which remain unsolved, and predominantly affected residential property as well as a mailbox to an apartment complex and the city shop for the Ontario Public Works Department, Alexander said Friday.
Gang officers were also assisting with those cases, Alexander had said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Ontario police at (541) 889-5312.
