Photo courtesy of City of Anderson Department of Public Works
Photo courtesy of City of Anderson Department of Public Works
Amid rising concerns of gangs entering Shasta County, police this week are searching for the culprit who spray-painted graffiti on two East Center Street buildings in Anderson on the eve or early morning of Aug. 22, according to Sergeant Steve Blunk of the Anderson Police Department in an interview today. In black spray paint, “Sur 13” and other figures were written on the Anderson Teen Center and neighboring Valley Christian Center.
The “Sur 13” writing is an insignia used by the Surenos gang, Blunk said, citing a nationally recognized gang from southern California with roots in the prison system.
“It’s a very strong indicator ... of gang activity,” Blunk said Thursday.
Recent shootings in Redding that Blunk attributed to Sureno gang violence has some Anderson officers on alert.
“It prepares us for the potential for that to be here too,” he said.
Patrolling Anderson officers will take more interest in people they contact regarding gang activity, added Detective Dave Price.
But even though documented Surenos gang members live in Anderson, anyone with a can of spray paint may be responsible for the graffiti, noted Blunk, who did not commit to calling the incident gang-related.
“It is a potential that there are gangs here seeking to identify themselves and mark territory,” Blunk said.
He said it could be from someone who wants to be in the gang. Also, the graffiti doesn’t match up with how graffiti is used in bigger cities to denote a war for territory with another gang, he said. Blunk said he would be more concerned if the marking was followed by violence or if a rival gang painted over it.
“(It’s) not typical of how a gang member would do it,” Chief Dale Webb said of the graffiti during a separate interview Thursday. “Gangs are just trying to get a foothold in the county.”
Since the discovery of the graffiti, City of Anderson promptly covered over the vandalism. Public works employees found the cap to a spray paint can lying nearby. It was sent to the Department of Justice laboratory for fingerprint analysis, Blunk said.
A $500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction was also announced through Shasta County Secret Witness, Blunk said.
Overall damage from the vandalism cost the city about $100 to clean up, Blunk said.
Anonymous tips can be sent to Secret Witness by calling 243-2319.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 5
BandMom writes:
GANGS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!
clitav writes:
NIMBY'S UNITE! REPORT, REPORT, REPORT! If you see suspicious activity call it in, even if it is anonymous, if they get a toe hold they will own our streets in no time!
rockydog writes:
Why would you use "NIMBY"? Nimby is usually a derogatory word used to describe someone who does not want something undesirable in their neighborhood but it's OK somewhere else. Not wanting gang activity in my town or neighborhood does not make me a NIMBY, it makes me a good citizen who cares about the safety of the community. Clearly your first phrase just makes the rest of your post sound sarcastic.
clitav writes:
Wow Rocky, I did not mean to poop on your doorstep! My bad! I was trying to be cute, funny attention grabbing, not to be OFFENSIVE! Not in my back yard people can be cool too, because there is a lot of things I do not want to transpire in my back yard as it were! Again, MB!
rockydog writes:
Apology accepted! Perhaps I WAS over sensitive. We are on the same page on this one!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.