BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE -- Several weeks ago, a man driving his pickup truck was stopped by several youths who blocked his path. When the man stepped out of the truck, the youths sprayed him with pepper spray.
In another incident in September, a teen-ager was stabbed twice in the leg and chest.
Since August, there have been more than two dozen complaints of juvenile problems in the area of U.S. 42 and Weaver Road. The complaints have been made to Florence police and the Boone County police and sheriff's departments, said Florence Lt. Tim Chesser.
The problem area sits both in Florence and part of unincorporated Boone County.
Authorities say a small group of "wanna-be" youth gang members are responsible for the acts of violence, which include harassment and assaults.
"It's a select group of kids that are causing problems for a large group of people. So, it's not like this is a huge problem within the county now," said Barry Drizin, chairman of the Boone County Alcohol and Other Drugs Communities That Care Committee.
"There's a clique of kids who are being noticed, some are wearing the gang colors, primarily red," the color of a gang,
the Bloods, he said. They "are being seen walking down the streets in certain neighborhoods in a group."
Mr. Drizin said the youths may also be responsible for "tagging" a pharmacy with graffiti. Several of the symbols are intended as "disrespect" for the Crips, a rival gang of the Bloods.
"If somebody in Chicago or L.A. were to see somebody writing that stuff -- people are killed for that kind of stuff. I don't think the kids who we are dealing with understand that," Mr. Drizin said.
The tagging and violence spurred residents of Eagles Landing to hold a meeting last week. The meeting was attended by law enforcement officials, Florence Mayor-elect Diane Ewing Whalen, the Boone County attorney's office and about 60 residents. Several residents have chosen not to pursue charges against some of the suspects for fear of retaliation, Mr. Drizin said.
"The concern about the retaliation is understood. But the question comes down to: Do you want to be concerned in the short term that they're going to retaliate, or do you want to be concerned over the long run that you feel like a hostage in your neighborhood, which is how they present that they have felt while trying to address these kids," Mr. Drizin said.
Police attended the meeting to learn more about the problems and dispel rumors.
"The people were very upset that gangs had invaded their area and afraid that they were in danger," Lt. Chesser said. "I think the problem is going to be resolved. (But) one of the major obstacles that we have to overcome is denial that it can't happen here."
Law enforcement officials have agreed to meet regularly with the committee of residents to share information and put a stop to potential problems before they get out of hand, Lt. Chesser said. Participants are also organizing a gang conference, possibly for two days in January.
