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Case may be linked to other incidents By Davin Eldridge
Staff Writer Three Franklin men are suspected of having gang ties after being implicated in a series of burglaries around town. Two of the men were arrested and charged on July 21 with the burglary of the Big D convenience store located on Hwy. 28 North. According to Macon County Sheriff’s detectives, the two men have been linked to other incidents occurring in city limits, making the case a joint investigation with the Franklin Police Department. David William Heller, 20, of Lyle Street and Harley Thomas Golden, 24, of Jake Drive were both charged with felony breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods. At the time, investigators said there were additional suspects involved in the case whose arrests were forthcoming. “We don’t know what exactly all that they’ve broke into, but we do know for a fact that they broke into Big D, and we do know for a fact that they broke into Pizza Hut,” said Sheriff Robbie Holland. “We’re still trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.” Paul Joseph Quinn, 21, of Lake Emory Road, was arrested on July 28 on charges of burglary, larceny and felony aiding and abetting breaking and entering.Holland says the investigation continues and other individuals may be implicated. He stated that throughout their investigation while interviewing the suspects, Sheriff’s office investigators obtained evidence of gang affiliation among them. “They claimed to be a part of this new gang here in town called the New Generation of Outlaws, or NGO,” he said. “They have it written on shoes. They’re wearing purple bandanas that are marking their colors,” Holland continued. “We even found a ledger that had hand-written bylaws of the NGO, with rules to go by and other different things.” Among the incriminating things found in the gang’s ledger were the proceed percentages of thefts and gang structure according to rank, said Holland. “It was a small group of individuals that were starting this so-called gang, and we have been in contact with all of the individuals whose names have been given,” he said, adding that all the suspects were Caucasian males in their 20s. “We definitely have uncovered some additional information that the office is following up on,” said Holland. Additional arrests have not occurred as of yet, but are forthcoming, according to Holland, who added that there are other gang members yet to be apprehended. Secured bonds totalling $40,000 were set for Heller and a total of $105,000 in secured bonds was set for Golden. A secured bond of $20,000 has been set for Quinn. Anyone who may have additional information on the suspects are urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (828)349-8477. |
