Police suspect robbery a

POCATELLO - Two Fort Hall teens who tried to force their way into a man's house early Tuesday morning while attacking him with a crowbar and knife, and two others who acted as lookouts, were under Fort Hall Police surveillance, Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said.

Prosecutors charged the boys, all between the ages of 14 and 16, with felony conspiracy to commit robbery and felony burglary. The two who attacked the man were also charged with felony battery with intent to commit robbery.

The incident happened near Reservation Road Tuesday at about 2 a.m. The victim managed to shut the door, but sustained minor wounds during the attack.

Nielsen said he does not know if the boys have criminal records, but said they were not acquainted with the victim.

Bannock County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Dennis Wilkinson said the two boys charged with battery will automatically be prosecuted as adults for that offense, but it will be up to Sixth District Judge Bryan Murray to decide if the others will be prosecuted in adult or juvenile court.

While Nielsen stopped short of saying the robbery attempt was gang related, he did say his detectives are investigating it that way.

"We know of four new gangs in the area," Nielsen said. "The suspects in this incident have not claimed allegiance to any (gang) at this time, but their actions are consistent with gang activity. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a panic situation where we have to grab our kids and run. If we work together, we can stamp this out."

The detective investigating the case, Howard Manwaring, said the problem is not limited to the reservation.

"This investigation did turn up information that there are new gangs recruiting kids on the reservation," Manwaring said. "But the problem is not Native American specific, it's kid specific. It is tied to drug activity, particularly marijuana and methamphetamine."

Manwaring said gangs are not overwhelming law enforcement, but they are keeping police busy.

"You have to put this in perspective," he said. "If you want a comparison, look at what's going on in Nampa and Caldwell. Compared to those cities, this is still a desirable place to live."