GAINESVILLE – Graffiti is nothing new. Archaeologists find it in ancient digs. Until recently it has had more of an urban connotation than something found in small-town America.
No longer so, say law enforcement agencies in Gainesville and Hall County.
“We would like for the general public to know that we do take these crimes (vandalism, primarily) seriously, that it does greatly affect business and commerce in the downtown area,” Gainesville Police Corporal Kevin Holbrook said in a press release.
Holbrook’s comments came on the heels of three juveniles being charged on Friday with vandalism to the downtown parking deck. The “tagging”, as it is also known, did not appear to be gang-related, Holbrook said.
“Parents and others should be vigilant about their children and the activities they are conducting,” Holbrook said.
“These may seem like harmless pranks to our youth, but they are serious crimes with serious consequences.”
Hall County Deputy Chad Mann said, "It not only defaces the property...but it creates this image to the public that there's this lawlessness out there and disrespect for authority."
Mann said Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch has created a graffiti detail focused on tracking down graffiti and then removing it from sight.
"They either paint over it or pressure-wash it off," Mann said.
Mann feels that the graffiti he deals with is both gang-related, and artistic expression that violates of the law.
"It's probably a fifty-fifty mix of gang graffiti and someone who has a little too much creative time on their hands."
Mann says graffiti is not age-exclusive, adults participate alongside the kids, and that compounds the crime for the adult.
"Recently we made an arrest of four individuals (three adults and a minor)...and anytime you have a minor in your presence...you're contributing to the delinquency of that minor."
Taken into custody in that arrest were G.R. Salmeron, 17, Jose N. Hernandez, 20, and Yonic Castillo, 19, all of Gainesville. With the three adults was a 15-year-old juvenile.
The three adults were all charged with Interference with Government Property (the bridge pillars on Atlanta Highway they were defacing) and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
A $6,000 bond was set for the men; only Castillo was able to post the bond and be released.
Both Holbrook and Mann ask the public to report any graffiti or graffiti action they see.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/6/315213/gainesville-hall-county-law-enforcement-attack-graffiti-onslaught