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Police say a feud between local Asian gangs is behind a rash of graffiti in Onalaska, this on the heels of a gang-related case involving drugs and guns.

Police believe there is an ongoing feud between a gang called Crazy Hmong Boyz and another local gang, the True Asian Bloods, and they are spraying the graffiti as part of a turf war.

Onalaska police are hoping for a lucky break to identify and apprehend gang members who have been painting graffiti on city sidewalks, bridges and private property. “The community can help by calling in any suspicious activities, especially if a group of kids are involved,” said Chad Marcon, an investigator with the Onalaska Police Department.

“We believe 90 percent of kids are good kids,” Marcon continued. “But there is a tiny percent of kids responsible for this. They will be found and held accountable.”

Just after 4 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, an officer spotted graffiti on the Van Riper Park sign. According to the police report, “Can’t Stop Crazy Hmong Boyz” was painted in black paint on the sign.

Throughout the weekend, the police department received 10 calls from residents — one of whom had graffiti painted on his vehicle — and discovered other graffiti near Onalaska Middle School and Northern Hills Elementary. Graffiti was found on East Spruce, Grove and Johnson streets as well as Oak Avenue North.

Some graffiti had the “Crazy Hmong Boyz” marked over with an “X” and “Crips” was written beside it. Other sites had obscenities but all the sites are believed to be gang related.

Marcon said two groups calling themselves gangs appear to be loosely knit, copycat gangs. “We’ve never had any indication that we have a chapter of any notorious gang like in Chicago,” Marcon said.

According to Marcon, the police department has several ongoing investigations and are trying to get out in the community to meet the kids and just get to know them, even if it’s to talk about fishing or school or sports. “We want to be proactive on the streets, getting the word out and showing our presence,” he said.

So far, Marcon said, the gang activity has been limited to graffiti. “Are they dangerous?” he asked. “Well, they’ve no regard for property so it’s hard to say what they are capable of. That’s why we want to get more involved and put a halt to it.”

Concern about Asian gang activity prompted one Onalaska officer to hold two Asian men at gunpoint after he discovered they were working on a car that had been reported stolen.

According to a police report submitted by officer Peter Jakowski, he was attempting a warrant arrest on the morning of Aug. 25 on the 400 block of Quincy Street when he saw “two male Asians working under the hood of a white Plymouth van... Given the rash of graffiti involving Asian gangs and gun fire at the apartment complex over the weekend, I ran a registration check.”

After Jakowski learned the van was reported stolen, he called for backup and confronted the pair of 20-year-olds. “I had my gun out and in the ‘ready position.’ They were ordered to their knees and told to place their hands on top of their head,” the report said. Jakowski continued to hold them there until backup arrived.

The young men told officers they were given permission to work on the van as it had been parked for some time without moving. The man who had given the young men permission to work on the van was related to the owners who had reported it stolen. When contacted they said he did not have permission to take the vehicle.

Jakowski’s confrontation occurred at the same apartment complex where gunshots had been reported a couple days earlier.

The Onalaska investigation into the gunshots resulted in drug charges being filed last week against four Hmong men — two 18-year-olds and two in the their 20s. One of the men also faces a charge he fired a gun in the city.

Deputy District Attorney Loralee Clark said there is evidence the men charged in the drug case were involved in gang activity.

Gang-related activity is not new to the area. There was some gang activity in the mid-1990s, which prompted area schools to add Gang Resistant Education and Training program to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education curriculum being taught by police officers.

“That’s always, since I’ve come to town in 1990, been a concern and there have been several initiatives like GREAT programs in Onalaska and La Crosse,” said Mayor Mike Giese. “It’s not a new phenomenon, but a pressing one in the community. It needs to be carefully monitored and police action taken as soon as possible.”

Although Onalaska Police Chief Jeff Trotnic just started Tuesday, he was quickly getting up to speed on the gang situation and offered reassurance that the department is on the case.

“I can assure you we’re aware of certain issues going on in the community,” Trotnic said. “There has been an increase of police presence and sharing of information between beat officers. Of course, we need the community support, extra eyes. The police are doing everything we can.”

Contact Jo Anne Killeen at joanne.killeen@lee.net or (608)786-6816.