Gangs In Walla Walla: Growing Trend?

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By Holly Zuluaga

Summary

More gang violence in Walla Walla. Two people are behind bars after a gang brawl broke out this weekend, but is this an isolated incident or part of a bigger problem?

Story Published: Mar 14, 2010 at 10:52 PM PST

WALLA WALLA--More gang violence in Walla Walla.

Two people are behind bars after a gang brawl broke out this weekend, but is this an isolated incident or part of a bigger problem?

A community ruffled up by a brutal gang brawl.

“There has been gang influence in Walla Walla for a number of years, but I do believe there's increased violence,” David Higgins, a Walla Walla resident.

This weekend police responded to a home on Center Street where a birthday party turned into a fight that police described as a “war zone”.

The home is a frequent hang out for gang members, but police say the people who live there don't have gang ties.

Five people were sent to the hospital with stab wounds.

Two of them were also shot.

“When I was growing up in high school there didn't seem like there was a lot of gang activity, but after coming back after 8 years it is surprising to see the gang activity has increased dramatically,” Mathew Haney, a Walla Walla resident said.

Two accused gang bangers have been arrested for the fight.

Police say the neighborhood is usually quiet in a good part of town, and it's not a gang hot spot.

Back in September Action News talked to police and they told me about the gang problems by the prison also West of 2nd to 12th Ave, between Poplar and Orchard.

Police admit gangs are a big problem; back in September gang crimes had doubled each year.

“We're probably higher now than we've been any time I can relate to, that's 37 years,” Sgt. Randy Allessio with the Walla Walla Police Department said.

A website that tracks gangs in the Northwest lists these documented gangs in Walla Walla, most are Hispanic gangs:

WALLA-WALLA COUNTY
East Side Piru
* Florencia 13
-Los Malos
* Hoover Criminals
-DeuceFour 7
* Labor Camp Crew
* West Side Bloods
* West Side 18th Street
-Wicked

Police tell me that they're tracking about 500 individuals in gangs.

“When I was a child like most places people didn't lock their doors. My father left the keys on his car because he though well somebody might need to move it you can't do that anymore,” David Higgins said.

People Action News talked to in Walla Walla say they don't believe the problem is rampant, just more noticeable.