Members of a notorious street gang have used graffiti to mark their territory on the West Side of Summit County, the authorities said.
Detective Ron Bridge, a spokesman for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, said he suspects the markings were left by members of Brown Side 13.
“The gang-related graffiti was located in the pedestrian underpass between Beehive Street and North Pace Frontage Road,” Bridge said in a telephone interview. “It goes underneath I-80.”
The graffiti was reported April 5 at 4:16 p.m. Last week, the markings were covered.
“They’re marking their territory,” Bridge said. “There is gang activity no matter where you go and that’s why we have a full-time gang detective to investigate situations like this.”
Most suspected members of Brown Side 13 in the Park City area are about 18 years old, said Detective Andrew Burton, who works gang enforcement for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
Members of the gang are dispersed throughout Utah, he said.
Brown Side 13 originated in the Los Angeles area, Burton said.
“We have sort of a local shot-caller,” Burton said about the leader of Brown Side 13 in the Park City area. “I have my suspicions about who it is.”
Recently, an Interstate 80 pedestrian underpass near Kimball Junction was tagged with the words “BS 13 run Park City,” Burton said.
“This is typical gang talk,” he said.
Burton’s job is to learn about the gang and arrest its members when they commit crimes.
“Many, many of these gangs try to espouse some traits or some things that make it sound like they’re a good organization,” Burton said. “Bottom line is, they are criminals. They are out to commit crimes.”
Members of Brown Side 13 have committed assaults, thefts and have been involved with drugs in Summit County, he said.
“Violence is a way of life for them,” Burton said. “Some of those guys will shoot anybody, including a cop.”