Barrow Co. forming gang task force

WINDER - Barrow County officials say gang activity in the Winder area has increased to the point that they've decided it warrants a gang task force.

Sheriff Jud Smith says the gang problems in the county don't resemble the activity in big cities, but that recently there has been an increase in petty crime and gang graffiti.

Smith believes some of the gang members operating in Barrow County have connections with larger groups in surrounding counties.

The sheriff says the task force will give detectives in the sheriff's office a framework for sharing information and investigations with detectives in the Winder Police Department.