![A new gang that uses purple as its color is one of several new "hybrid" groups police in Tracy have lately observed. Press photo illustration](http://matchbin-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/public/sites/543/assets/KB0B_gang_colors__09_10_10.jpg "A new gang that uses purple as its color is one of several new "hybrid" groups police in Tracy have lately observed. Press photo illustration")
A new gang that uses purple as its color is one of several new "hybrid" groups police in Tracy have lately observed. Press photo illustration
A crew that wears purple as its main color and calls itself UTI, short for “under the influence,” has gained a small presence in the city, according to Tracy police Detective Matt Sierra.
It isn’t the only one.
Sierra, a member of the department’s gang unit, said UTI is not firmly associated with either of the city’s most prominent gangs, the Norteños and the Sureños, but is one of several new “hybrid gangs” that have cropped up in the city in the past year and a half.
According to Sierra, what the police call a hybrid gang is mostly “a group of kids who are friends, and they get together and they call themselves a certain name.”
Membership in such groups is fairly fluid, Sierra said, with young people sometimes switching allegiances among various groups. But, he said, they’re as dangerous as more established outfits.
“They’re just as violent, they’re just as involved in criminal activity,” he said.
In the past two weeks, members of UTI — who named themselves because they like to get high on marijuana, Sierra explained — have been chased away from Stein High School on Ninth Street, reported trying to break into vehicles on Mount Diablo Avenue, and detained for drug violations.
The typical age of the new gang’s members is between 13 and 23, and they’re mostly involved in drug sales, vehicle burglaries and other various thefts.
Sierra added that the purple-clad UTI and other hybrid gangs have popped up in response to police efforts to stamp out gang activity. Gang members who were hounded under the Norteño or Sureño banner might have thought they could sneak under law enforcement’s radar, and Sierra said the presence of new groups has “probably increased the number of gang members that we have in our city.”
But he insists police are aware of what’s going on in town.
Police continue to gather intelligence from gang members who are arrested or members looking to get out of the life, Sierra explained, adding that police work with sheriff’s, immigration and customs officials in the fight against local gangs.
Joint parole and probation sweeps are also key tools in the police department’s gang-fighting utility belt. One, from 1 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, led to the arrest of three documented gang members, according to Sgt. Tony Sheneman. A 9mm handgun with fingerprints was also recovered, he said.
But Sierra said the efforts of the people of Tracy are just as important in keeping peace on the streets.
“If they see something suspicious or they see a group of kids that are maybe wearing the same type of color clothing, give us a call, and we’ll at least go out there and contact them,” he said.
• Photo editor Glenn Moore and associate editor Jon Mendelson contributed to this report.
Thanks for your support!
CN
Well I happen to know concernedneighbor is a nurse and has patched up many a trouble maker giving them the care they need but may not deserve as far as I am concerned.
Don't even put her down. She has also lost a loved one and recovered recently from a serious accident. I wold back her up anyday! So back off and lets all get together to come up with solutions to this problem. Not rip eachother apart.
Yes we are off the topic.
They're not going to listen to police, parents, teachers or clergy, but someone who can relate to them and how think about honor towards their gang, colors or whatever it is may be our best hope to save some but not a complete cure. The thought of prison or the fear of death doesn't seem to faze them, but hopefully someone can make a positive impact to help turn them around where everyone wins.
"TomBenigno wrote on Sunday, Sep 12 at 11:39 AM »
"Larry Hite signs are not in the constitution you idiot."
"Freedom of speech is important, not his signs."
"In other countries you would,have your head cut off for saying the things you have about people. That is what freedom of speech supposed to be about, stick to the real issues."
"Yes I did take and oath to uphold and defend the constitution, in the military and running for office and as a citizen that is why I oppose you kind."
We can talk about freedom of speech there.
Expose the arrested juvenile street terrorists to Scared Straight Talks inside of the Prisons (Hard Core Prisoners)
Early intervention for Parents, sometimes the kids just WON'T listen to their parents. Great parents have difficulties with their child, too.
They need all the exposure and straight truth to see where their future would take them if they do not change course for their life by using their own head and think independently!
CN
This might be off topic. But. Are you nuts?
We need solutions. Prevention for the young ones and harsher punishment for current gang members. It is time we turned the tables and made them afraid to be in a gang. Hunt them down like the animals (terrrorists) they are!
You have a lot of guts making that statement using Hites signs as a campaign gimick. Larry Hite signs are not in the constitution you idiot. Freedom of speech is important, not his signs.
In other countries you would,have your head cut off for saying the things you have about people. That is what freedom of speech supposed to be about, stick to the real issues. I'm not impressed by your cut and paste mentality, to get your word out.
Yes I did take and oath to uphold and
defend the constitution, in the military and running for office and as a citizen that is why I oppose you kind. Who in the hell do you think you are calling me VietTom you PIG?
"The only "STREET SIGNS" we need to worry about are Larry Hite's signs. He is a greater threat than all the young people who are just trying to make a statement."
Good morning VietTom!
Didn't you take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution when you entered the military...or did they administer it to everyone that day but you?
Round them all up and dispose of them.
I'm still waiting to see the broadcast, of August 3rd and Sept 7th that was never shown.
I'm glad you got to see the presentation.
I don't think you understood the issue, of what the ballot measure is about. Keep watching theres more to come.
I had a monster urinary tract infection too last week. The doctor prescribed some antibiotics and it cleared up just fine. Maybe that will work for you too?
Curly Loks- I think your street name is a little feminine. Must be hard to look tough when you you have a girly name or named after a nursery rhyme. Must be why you represent purple though...
Even one DUI off the street might save just one life. Lets not forget, the gangs usually target their own "kind" when they like to get really stupid and violent. A DUI driver can take out anybody and anytime without any warning.
Not saying we should go after DUI's only and forget the gangs, but your comments show lack of information and understanding.
2ndly charge them with inciting street violance, flaunting gang affiliations, conduct in disrupting and intimidating the town of tracy's citezens by wearing/flaunting gang affiliation colors. but the city is not that seriouse, if the city opfficals were, they would be cracking down on them big time.
3rdly, if the tracy press would stop glorifying these idiots by saying how dangerouse they were it would be a positive step. true we all need to know about these street turds but, to say everything that they want to be is counter productive. the same is true with history channels glorifying them on tv. this is what they thrive and feed off of. treat gangbanging like the flue, starve what makes them thrive and feen what kills them off, community pressure and policing. didn't you notice them drop off of the streets after we all cried out enough of this sillyass stuff and the chief of police promised tickets out to people even spitting or littering on our streets? did this stuff happen? nope. so, here we are once again.