May 8 — The group calling itself Gilbert Goons, which has been terrorizing the community for more than a year and brutally beating teenagers, was officially declared a criminal street gang last week, but will not be charged as such.
The classification follows a six-month joint investigation by multiple agencies, including Gilbert Police, Pinal County Sheriff’s Department, Queen Creek, Chandler and Mesa police departments.
“Through the collaborative effort of all the agencies you see here today, detectives have concluded that the group known as the Gilbert Goons met the requirements to be documented as a criminal street gang, as stipulated in Arizona Revised Statutes,” Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg said. announced during the press conference on May 2.
“Each of these law enforcement agencies here today has reviewed their investigations involving identified members of this gang and, based on the information available at this time, there is insufficient evidence to submit additional charges of participating in or assisting a criminal street gang,” he continued. .
“As with any investigation, if additional information or evidence is discovered, it will be reviewed to determine if additional charges are warranted.”
He noted that although the Gilbert Goons do not meet the criteria for additional charges at this time, gang intelligence information is available to the Maricopa County Prosecutor as additional information that can help their prosecution or their conviction in the event of conviction.
Soelberg also said that due to federal law, he is prohibited from identifying Gilbert Goons members, including where they live or go to school.
Several people arrested for crimes, including the fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord, are believed to be members of Gilbert Goons. The public has pushed law enforcement to classify Gilbert Goons as a street gang, which could result in harsher penalties.
At the briefing, law enforcement officials detailed the criteria for being classified as a street gang and the criteria needed for additional charges.
Under state law, to qualify as a criminal street gang, two of seven criteria must be met: self-proclamation; testimony or official statement; written or electronic correspondence; props or photographs; tattoos; clothing or colors and any other signs such as in-depth knowledge of other rival gangs, specific members’ territories or the response process, according to Maj. Bret Benham of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Soelberg also pointed out that the Gilbert Goons are classified as a “hybrid” street gang, which is different from a traditional gang.
Hybrid gangs are also difficult to document as criminal street gangs, according to Sergeant Gilbert. Dave Gale of the Street Crimes Unit.
Traditional gangs are typically made up of one race or ethnicity, claim territory and have specific colors or symbols, Gale said.
Hybrid gangs are usually mixed, of different races and genders, of different ages and use social media, according to…
