South Congaree police arrest dangerous “hybrid” gang members after short car chase earlier this week

South Congaree, (Paul Kirby) – South Congaree police officers arrested two “hybrid” gang members earlier this week after a short car chase and a crash. According to the department’s Public Information Officer D. Washington, these type of gang members are some of the most dangerous there are.

Police Officer Young was patrolling the town when he got behind a car that had an improper paper tag. When he activated his warning devices on Anthony Drive, instead of pulling over, the driver initiated a pursuit. Washington said Young stayed behind the car for a short time as it ran through a yard, tried to escape the dead-end road, and eventually struck another car. At that point, the two young men in the car were detained by the officers.

According to police, one of the men was carrying a handgun on his person. Officers also found an extended, thirty-round magazine in the car the two were driving. Both suspects complained of minor injuries after their wreck and were transported by Lexington County EMS to a medical facility. Once treated, the two were placed under arrest and transported to the Lexington County Detention Center where they were booked. No one in the other vehicle they struck was injured.

Pine Ridge Police Chief Parks, a recognized gang expert, told South Congaree officers that “hybrid”gangs are just getting started in an area. Because they don’t have a true allegiance to any nationally recognized gang and they are just getting set up, getting organized, and established, they have a lot to prove. Parks said that these are one of the more dangerous type of gangs because they must show existing gangs they’re not to be toyed with. These gang members need to prove to others they are tough and a gang to be reckoned with. Because most of the members are new and just joining, the new crew members often must commit crimes as an initiation process.

Chief Parks told the South Congaree officers that taking the pair and that gun off the streets may have saved someone’s life.