Police Arrest Local Gang Members
AP - June 15th, 12:56pm
Friday afternoon in the 700th block of Belshazzar Street, police arrested several local gang members for tagging. Tagging is a form of graffiti that gangs use to symbolize certain symbols that relate to the particular gang and to signify their own alphabets. The symbols and letters have meanings to other gang members who see the graffiti.
Tagging is similar to the old game of tag except the players tag, or put their personal "mark," with a can of spray paint says Officer Paul O'Daniel, with the 2nd precinct.
"Sometimes it turns into a game where one person sprays a tag and another goes out and finds it," O'Daniel said. "Basically, individuals come up with a moniker or certain symbol and it's theirs and they tag it. They do it for kicks."
O'Daniel said tagging is characterized by figures or names and normally, but not necessarily, is done in balloon lettering. "Most taggers are very artistic," he said. "Normally it has meaning to them."
Police are still trying to decifer the inscribed writing on the walls of Belshazzar Street, "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN", but believe it is a message for a rival gang regarding an imminent gang war.
Tagging, regardless of the artistic quality, is misdemeanor vandalism, and adults arrested for the crime can be sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail. The vandal can also be fined and required to pay restitution. A juvenile charged with vandalism can be required to pay restitution, fined, placed on probation or even taken into state custody.