Four tagging suspects jailed in South Pasadena

SOUTH PASADENA -- Police jailed four self-identified members of a tagging crew late Friday, authorities said.
Morgan Smith, 20, of Pasadena, Noe Miller, 18, of South Pasadena, Patrick Hillseth, 18, of South Pasadena and a 16-year-old boy, whose name was not released due to his age, were booked on suspicion of felony vandalism, South Pasadena police Officer Shannon Robledo said.
All four admitted to belonging to a tagging crew that calls itself "United Street Mob" and uses the acronym "USM" when scrawling graffiti, the officer said. The group is believed to be responsible for at least half a dozen incidents of graffiti vandalism in the northern portion of South Pasadena.
"We're going to do further investigation," Robledo said. "We're going to try and build a case against them."
Officers were patrolling on Stoney Drive near the 110 freeway when they saw two men come out of some bushes, Robledo said.
When police began talking to the men, a can of spray paint fell out of one of their sweat shirts, he said.
Both men admitted tagging on the nearby banks of the Los Angeles River, Robledo said, and to belonging to the tagging crew.
Police went to investigate the tagging, and they discovered another man and a teenager hiding in the riverbed, the officer said.
They had paint markings on their hands, he added, and they also admitted to tagging in the riverbed and belonging to the tagging crew.
Officials are now working to build a case against the suspects for other local graffiti attributed to their tagging crew.
The teenage suspect was cited and released to his father with a written promise to appear in court, South Pasadena police Sgt. Robert Bartl said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Morgan and Miller were released Saturday after posting $20,000 bail, while Hillseth was still being held in lieu of $20,000 bail. No information was available regarding their initial court appearances.