Teens claimto be members of Crips gang

Kalispell Police Department arrested four boys Thursday who are accused of causing thousands of dollars of gang-related vandalism.

The teens reportedly said they are members of the 406 Crips gang. They are charged with felony criminal mischief.

Police identified the boys as Jayme Le Duc, 14; John Cooper, 17; Jason Haigler, 16; and Ty Bates, 16.

They reportedly spray-painted "406 Crips" - designating Montana's telephone area code and affiliation with the national gang, on a score of buildings and vehicles in past weeks. They include the library, churches, commercial buildings, and garages.

Kalispell Police Chief Frank Garner said police are taking the gang affiliation seriously.

"They're playing big-boy games. They're in for big-boy consequences," he said.

No community with gangs has ever been able to eradicate them once they take serious hold, he said.

"It's a significant event," Garner said Thursday.

The graffiti or tagging involved thousands of dollars' worth of damages, he said.

The boys were arrested by officer Jim Wardensky as they walked on the east side of Kalispell. All were either wearing blue or had blue bandanas hanging from their pockets. The color designates Crips affiliation, Garner said.

They paint the symbols on buildings to mark their territory, he said.

"That's exactly how gangs get started," Garner said.

Police have been investigating the graffiti and were able to trace it to the boys. Garner said police were actually able to locate the store at which the boys bought the paint and used video from the store to obtain pictures of the teenage customers.

There were also fingerprints found on items left at the scene of some vandalism, Garner said.

"It was really good police work," he said.

It's not just the vandalism that goes with gangs that concerns police.

"It's no secret, part of [our concern] is the occurrence of other crimes that go along with it," Wardensky said.

Some of the boys have criminal histories. One is a convicted sex offender who has failed to abide by requirements to register with police, Garner said.

One of the boys has a broken arm he says he received during an initiation rite for the gang, Garner said.

"We aren't going to dismiss it as kids being kids," he said.

If convicted, the boys face sentences of up to 10 years in prison, and more arrests are expected.

Police reported fledgling gang activity in Kalispell in the mid-'90s, also. Garner said some of the people involved in that activity are now in prison.

"It's a progressive type thing," Wardensky said. "Hopefully, we've nipped it in the bud."

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com