Gangs of New Hampshire

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) - The latest incident came over the weekend, when a 15-year-old boy hit a 29-year-old man on the head with a baseball bat. The man was hospitalized and released for head and brain injuries.

Detective Lieutenant Richard Sprankle said the word "Folk" was on the bat, which may have been used in a similar assault earlier this month by another man.

Sprankle said local gangs affiliated with a network known as "Folk Nation" often oppose the Latin Kings and other gangs affiliated with another network called "Peoples Nation." Police believe both gangs are active in Nashua.

The victim's girlfriend said she knew the teenager and that he was home on weekend furlough from the Youth Detention Center. She also said he was a member of the "Folk" gang.
The boy is being held on juvenile charges of second-degree assault and hiding evidence.

Police say the crimes aren't limited to members of rival gangs.

Two youths have been charged with beating and robbing a man on the rail trail in late July and police are investigating an attack by seven youths on another man three weeks ago.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)