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 A vandal left a spray painted mural along the east side of Century Hall at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds last weekend and also on the west side of the Disaster Services building in northeastern Le Mars. Both pieces featured crowns. The incidents are under investigation. [Click to enlarge] |
However, Le Mars Police Captain Dennis Folkema said that, as far as Le Mars Police officials know, there is no active gang-related activity in Le Mars.
"This is the first sign we've seen that maybe people are in the process of wanting to form a gang or that there's activity that's not known about," he said.
The first graffiti incident was discovered on the west side of the Disaster Services building in the 200 block of Second Avenue Northeast.
"The letters LK were spray painted with a crown above them," Folkema said. "It appears to be gang-related symbols -- references to the Latin Kings."
The graffiti at the Disaster Services building was reported by a neighbor in the area, Folkema said. The vandalism likely look place between Oct. 3 and 5, he added.
A second incident was reported at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds by a fair board member.
According to the police report, the graffiti was on Century Hall. It was 12-15 feet long and included two five-pointed crowns and the word "King."
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Both instances involved black spray paint, Folkema said.
The Century Hall graffiti was painted between two buildings, Folkema said, so it probably wasn't visible from the road.
"We're thinking it took place between Oct. 1 and 4," he said.
The cost to sandblast and repaint the affected portion of Century Hall was estimated at $400.
The police investigation is ongoing.
With the graffiti indicating an interest in gang activity in Le Mars, Folkema said the Le Mars Police are watching for any other indications.
"Officers on the nights and weekends especially are being more vigilant in alleys and places like that, and we're asking the same of citizens -- if you see people hanging around in alleys or looking out of place, let us know," Folkema said.
Anyone with information relating to either event is asked to contact the Le Mars Police Department at 546-4113 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 548-4968.
If you parents and others have not noticed, there has been more graffiti at other places in town. There is graffiti at Franklin elementary school which had the words Bloods 4 Life written on it that has tried to be washed off and more recently Amos 8:3 which is a bible passage I if you type it into a search engine. Amos 8:3 was also written on the high school and on a houses garage two blocks away from the high school as well at that same house a white blazer type car had their rear license plate spray painted. All the police thinking there is no gangs in le mars have to look around at the teenagers. There are kids in the high school that have the Puerto Rican flag shaved into their heads, kids that refuse to talk amongst themselves in English, and kids telling other students they have hung out with the Latin kings. Those are obvious signs that there is a high possibility that there are gangs here in town. Me personally, am afraid to go to school for what has been said in classes. I think the police need to put this on their top priority before the threats that are being made end up happening
I personally feel threatened and scared for my life. I will not leave my house or let my children leave the house until this problem is resolved. They will also be wearing tin foil hats to protect themselves from brain washing.
I agree with mightymouse. I have lived in other parts of the U.S. where gangs are in high numbers. If you see "gang signs" painted, then trust me, you have a gang in your area. People need to be very careful and really look at this. Stuff like this will not go away on its' own. The police and city counsel need to stay focused on this.
Wake up and smell the coffee you country pumpkins. The gang paintings do not just appear. It takes a person in the gang to put them there. YES you have gangs. For you local government to say they do not know any activity they are sweeping it under the carpet. Start taking an active look at your community and what happens in it.
If "tags" are here the gangs are here or planning to get in... Keeping people aware is the best way to fight back gang activity.
Maybe if they keep making stories about the vandalism and show their art work online they will kindly stop doing it.... Probably not right? I think we need to stop actually showing them attention for their crime and they will have no reason to keep wanting to do it.