When Newton County Sheriff Joe Nichols spoke to local officials last week about the state of crime in the county, the growth of hybrid gangs topped his list of new threats to the area. Hybrid gangs are often young people who are attracted to the 'gangsta' subculture. They may claim to be part of larger gangs, such as the Bloods or the Crips, but often have no real tie to those groups.
Gang activity on the rise