This is some of the graffiti that two teens were charged with in Dobson recently. One of the teens is a known member of the Sur 13 gang.
Police Chief Shawn Myers said the 13-year-old is a “certified” gang member in the Sur 13 gang. The 15-year-old who was charged is “just a gang member wanna be.”
The teens were charged with breaking into Dobson Elementary School three times, Surry Central High School and Supermercado - La Lupita.
Myers said the teens were discovered when an officer spotted an open back door of the business on Jan. 9. While the officer was waiting for back-up to arrive from the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, he saw the two teens run out of the business. The teens escaped capture, but the next night, a Surry County Sheriff’s deputy saw the 13-year-old walking out from behind the elementary school at 12:30 a.m., according to Myers.
“After some discussion with the teens and their parents, they finally confessed,” Myers said.
The 13-year-old was arrested last Friday and charged with 13 Class H felonies, seven Class F felonies and seven misdemeanors, including felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, felony possession of stolen property and was charged under a new felony gang statute, which is to “solicit, encourage or participate with a minor into gang activity” for each of the times he allegedly broke into each school or business.
The 15-year-old was charged with five misdemeanors and 13 felonies, including felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen property for each of the break-ins.
After their arrests, the two teens were sent to juvenile detention in Forsyth County.
Myers said the teens also spray-painted several locations in town with gang graffiti.
From the Supermercado, the teens allegedly stole a case of beer, cartons of Marlboro cigarettes, rosary beads, boxes of cigars and a cigarette lighter.
During the break-in at Surry Central High School in the rear field house, which happened during the Christmas break, the teens allegedly took jump ropes, baseballs, bats, soccer shoes, football shoes, body wash, body spray and body deodorant.
During the break-ins at Dobson Elementary School, the teens allegedly stole digital cameras, a deck of playing cards and candy.
“The third time they broke into the elementary school, they didn’t steal anything, so they were just charged with felony breaking and entering and the 13-year-old was additionally charged with the felony gang charges.”
The 13-year-old was also charged with two counts of trespassing on school property. They were both charged with four counts of injury to real property and one count of injury to personal property.
Myers said all of the stolen items were recovered at the homes of both teens.
The 13-year-old was suspended from middle school at the time of the break-ins, and the 15-year-old was a student at the high school.
“We’ve cleared up several cases and hopefully put a stop to this at least for a little while,” Myers said.
He said that he knows there are more gang members in Dobson.
If anyone has any information about those gang members, Myers asked the Dobson Police Department be contacted at 356-8161.
Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.
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