According to Arizona law, a criminal street gang is an association of people who commit or help in the commission of felony crimes and has at least one person who is a gang member. A gang member is defined as someone to whom two of the seven following criteria apply:
They declare themselves to be a gang member
They're documented as a gang member through witness testimony or official statement:
- They're documented through written or electronic correspondence
- They possess paraphernalia or photographs affiliated with a gang
- They have gang tattoos
- They wear gang clothing or display gang colors
- Anything else that would indicate gang membership
Sprunk said he firmly believes that Juggalos don't meet any of the gang criteria, and said it frustrates him that law enforcement sometimes labels him and his friends that way.
"You get picked on a lot more because you're different," Sprunk said.
Of Mesa's 34 documented Juggalos, public records show some have been arrested in connection with crimes including aggravated assault, shoplifting, drug paraphernalia and armed robbery. But many Juggalos said these types of people are rare in their circles.
And McCloe said it bothers him when he hears a news report of Juggalos hurting people.
Vasey, the DPS gang investigator, said although she believes Juggalos are by and large not a gang, she keeps certain sects of them on her radar.
