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December 31, 2008

WCPD reports confirm “Northside/Southside” disturbance at Heather Farm Park Saturday night--and it turns out to be serious vandalism

Sources for the Mayor at claycord.com reported that a big fight was going on at Heather Farm Park late Saturday night.

“DeLaSalle” told the Mayor around 11:19 p.m. Saturday that there was a "group of 30 fighting at a 'Quinceañera' that is going on. Shouting 'Northside' and 'Southside.' "

Ten minutes minutes later, “DeLaSalle” told the Mayor that the fight had been dispersed. There were no victims, and the police asked John Muir and Kaiser medical centers to report any Hispanic males, between the ages of 16 and 25, coming in to be treated for injuries.

Walnut Creek police reports initiallyed classified this incident as a “415” (public disturbance in police talk), involving about 30 people. And, yes, there were reports of participants yelling “Northside” and “Southside.” Police arrived and couldn’t find a fight. However, officers did find graffiti, in white paint, sprayed throughout the Heather Farms Community Center. One of the words tagged on the center was “insane.” The other writing was unrecognizable. The incident was re-classified as a vandalism.

There was much discussion on claycord.com’s message board about the meanings of the “Northside” and “Southside" shouts. Northside Walnut Creek versus Southside Walnut Creek? I’ve never heard those geographical distinctions applied to Walnut Creek.

Others speculated that the North/South references were to the basic Hispanic gang divisions: Nortenos versus Surrenos, or XIVs versus XIIIs. These divisions are certainly prevalent in many parts of Contra Costa and Alameda counties and throughout the state and the state prison system.

Since the Heather Farms “fight,” or whatever it was, had dispersed by the time police arrived, and there were no victims or arrests, it is probably hard for police to speculate on why the participants were showing "Northside" and "Southside."

I have contacted WCPD’s juvenile officer. Maybe when he and I finally get a chance to chat, he can shed some light on whether Walnut Creek has any kind of emerging gang problem.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think this means WC has an emerging gang problem. Think this means that whoever rented out the space or had the party there has family that are notereno and ran into some surenos.

Nortenos and more prevelant up here being that this is norcal, but the surenos are far more large in numbers.

Anonymous said...

and sides of towns don't come into play at all. It's about what part of the state you rep.

Anonymous said...

I agree that the city doesn't have any emerging gang problem. It was probably those "outsiders."

Even this blog says WC is 84% white, which doesn't leave much room for Hispanic gangs.

And most of the kids I see around town who don't like all preppy sport a look that's either "skater dude" or Emo.

Anonymous said...

This is like the Jets vs. Sharks.

Anonymous said...

"Even this blog says WC is 84% white, which doesn't leave much room for Hispanic gangs."

How much room does a Hispanic gang really need? A possible 16% seems to be enough to create a problem...but then I'm just one of those "outsiders" what do I know?

Anonymous said...

Actually the gangs will take white members. There are plenty of Caucasian wannabees.