Police see evidence of gang activity on Bennington's streets

The Bennington Banner reports that according to Bennington Police Detective Peter Urbanowicz, "Police started noticing spray painting, referred to as 'tagging,' of gang symbols around [Bennington] in the late spring and early summer, and it has continued." In addition, "alleged gang members have also been recently prosecuted on assault, drug and larceny charges in Bennington District Court," and there has been "evidence of gang activity, such as initiation rituals." Indeed, "police know of 'beat-in' or 'jump-in' initiations occurring in town where potential gang members were forced to fight a number of existing members in order to join. [Police] have not found evidence of 'sexed-in' initiations where female members would have to perform sexual acts to gain entry, but with female members present, it is a possibility." Notably, "the activity has mostly been associated with the Bloods, a nationwide gang that has broken down into numerous regional sub-groups. But there has been evidence of the Crips, the Bloods' long-standing rival, in town and of the Hells Angels, a worldwide motorcycle gang that claims to be law-abiding."

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