Recent Loganville Area Arrests Highlight Encroachment of Gang Activity

Three men in their late teens from the Loganville area, one of them a South Gwinnett High School student, were arrested on Feb. 15, 2013 in connection with participation in gang activity. The charges stem from an alleged assault on a South Gwinnett student in October last year.

Tommy Hakeem Barge, 18, of 1177 Preserve Park Drive, Loganville, is charged with Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act – possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, aggravated assault and participation in gang activity. Rashawn Noel Kelly, 19, of 3880 Walters Park Drive, Loganville, is charged with VGCSA of controlled substance, VGCSA possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, simple battery and participation in gang activity. Clifford Franklin, 17, of 2342 Red Rose Lane, Loganville, is charged with simple battery and participation in gang activity. He is a student at SGHS. The subjects all live in unincorporated Gwinnett in the Loganville area.

The arrests are the result of an investigation that began with an incident on Oct. 13, 2012, when another South Gwinnett student was allegedly attacked by the three when he was walking home. Barge is accused of brandishing a black semi-automatic hand gun and striking the victim with it.

According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, they are members of the East Coast Bloods, a sub-set of the Bloods. GCPD public information officer Cpl. Jake Smith said gang activity is picking up in this area.

“Somewhat,” Smith said, adding that historically, however, there has been very little in the area, making any increase noticeable. “The main gang activity we see is from the Bloods gang and its many sub-sets. Gang activity has come to the attention of investigators at Grayson, South Gwinnett, Berkmar and Central Gwinnett.”

Smith said the “Young Wavy Goons” gang that Larnell Sillah, charged in the shooting death of Paul Sampleton, is alleged to be a member of is a relatively small gang.

“A few dozen members, but it is considered a sub-set of the much larger Bloods gang,” Smith said. “Typically they are involved in property theft-type crimes.”

Barge, Kelly and Franklin are all being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond.

See other stories from the Loganville-Grayson area on Loganville-Grayson Patch