Gang activities recognized under AH public nuisance code

By CARA LORELLO

Staff Reporter

Street gang activities are now considered a public nuisance in the city of Airway Heights.

On. Nov. 3, the Airway Heights City Council approved a new ordinance adding a new section to the city's nuisance code declaring certain gang activities a public nuisance, allowing for enforcement options where property owners permitting such activity on their premises are now held accountable.

Law enforcement officials introduced the ordinance as a preemptive strike in light of increases in gang activity throughout Spokane County. The type of activity that seems to be most prevalent for the city is not gangs specifically, but the crimes and activities committed by gang members, or associates of a gang, Airway Heights Police Chief Lee Bennett said.

“We do have a gang presence out here. It's not a situation of gangs creating the crimes, it's more the associates breaking the law,” Bennett said.

These groups of gang associates police deal with on a weekly basis, whether it's responding to a crime, or following up with individuals on crime-related leads. Bennett said most of them are repeat offenders, are male and most range in age from 15 to 30 years old.

While state statutes currenlty exist for prosecuting crimes committed by gang members, passing the public nuisance ordinance puts enforcement rules on the books as another way to address criminal gang activity, which up to now weren't recognized by the nuisance code.

The new ordinance is modeled after a similar law recently adopted by law enforcement in the city of Moses Lake, Wash., whom Airway Heights Police Department contacted for information prior to drafting their own.

Under the new amendment, any pattern of criminal street gang activity on a property with the owner's knowledge or consent constitutes a public nuisance and is grounds for revocation of any permit or license regulating or authorizing use of such property. Bennett used one example of a caller reporting to police a landlord is permitting gang associates' trafficking stolen property from their home. Residents who suspect certain activities are encouraged to contact police.

“It holds landlords and landowners accountable, because gangs are a growing phenomenon in the county right now. We need to have every tool at our disposal to respond if we want to stay ahead,” Bennett said.

Airway Heights Municipal Code currently defines “nuisances” as doing an unlawful act, omitting to perform a duty, suffering or permitting any condition when that act results in the following scenario(s): annoys, injures, or endangers others' comfort, repose, health or safety; offends decency; is offensive to the senses; unlawfully interferes with passage of any city stream, public park, parkway, square, or street; renders other persons insecure in life and use of property; obstructs the free use of property so as to essentially interfere with comfortable enjoyment of life or property; degrades the city's scenic attractiveness and livability and its economic development.

Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]