Category Archives: Graffiti

Rowland Heights man accused of four-month tagging spree

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ROWLAND HEIGHTS – A 19-year-old Rowland Heights man pleaded no contest Tuesday to three counts of felony vandalism in connection with an alleged four-month graffiti spree, authorities said.
Deputies arrested Vicente Christoph Haro about 6:30 a.m. Friday after a tipster reported seeing him scrawling graffiti at Colima Road and Paso Real Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Christopher Blasnek said.
Haro was still at the scene when deputies arrived and discovered he had vandalized a bus bench, a wall and a utility box, the lieutenant said. And the marks he scrawled were familiar to officials, who had seen similar graffiti in the area over since December.
He’s accused of causing more than $2,500 worth of damage during his “bombing runs,” a slang term for scrawling graffiti on multiple spots at the same time, Blasnek said.
He appeared in court Tuesday, where prosecutors charged him with eight counts of felony vandalism, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
He pleaded no contest to three counts at his initial court appearance, she said. The remaining five counts of felony vandalism were expected to be dismissed at his sentencing, scheduled for Friday.

Police: Prolific teenage graffiti vandal arrested in Azusa

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AZUSA — Police arrested a 14-year-old probationer Friday for dozens of acts of graffiti vandalism, and plan to charge the boy’s mother for the $5,100 worth of damage he caused, police said.
Officers from the Azusa Police Department’s Gang Specialist Unit carried out a search about 8:25 a.m. at the boy’s home in the 500 block of East Gladstone Street, Azusa police Sgt. John Madaloni said in a written statement. They were following up on an investigation into whoever was responsible for the dozens of vandalism incidents over the past six months.
The officers found “an abundance of graffiti tools and graffiti samples consistent with the open investigation,” Madaloni said.
The teen was booked at the Azusa Police Department’s jail and subsequently identified and confessed to 51 individual acts of graffiti vandalism, the sergeant said.
He was taken to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.
“In addition to the pending criminal charges, the vandal’s mother was also issued an administrative citation for the documented damages,” Madaloni said.

Anti-LAPD graffiti found in El Monte believed to be the work of a ‘Dorner supporter’

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EL MONTE — Officials found and removed a large graffiti message cursing the Los Angeles Police Department was believed to have been inspired by the recent manhunt for former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner, authorities said.
The spray-painted graffiti was first reported about 10:30 a.m. on a wall surrounding a home in the 4800 block of Dyson Street, at Lower Azusa Road, El Monte police Cpl. Aram Choe said.
“The graffiti was approximately three feet tall, and it was critical of the Los Angeles Police Department,” the corporal said. He estimated the message was about 6 feet wide.
It read, “(expletive) LAPD,” officials said.
Investigators suspected the graffiti was scrawled by a “Dorner supporter” in response to the recent manhunt, and ultimate killing, of quadruple-murder suspect and ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner, Choe said.
Dorner wrote in an online manifesto that he was engaging in a war against his former colleagues in law enforcement in retaliation for his termination from the LAPD in early 2009.
Before he was ultimately tracked to a cabin near Big Bear, where his body was found following a lengthy gun battle and massive fire, Dorner killed Cal State University Fullerton assistant basketball coach Monica Quan, 28, and her 27-year-old fiancee, Keith Lawrence, near their Irvine home, authorities said.
In the 10 days that followed, he went on to fatally shoot a Riverside police officer and a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy as law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California mobilized to hunt for Dorner, officials said. Another Riverside police officer and another San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy were seriously wounded by Dorner’s gunfire.

Teens accused of graffiti vandalism in Azusa

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AZUSA — Police arrested two teenagers Friday after a witness reported seeing them vandalizing a wall with graffiti along San Gabriel Avenue.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of vandalism, while a 16-year-old boy was suspected of delaying and obstructing a peace officer for failing to cooperate with officers’ orders, Azusa police Sgt. DeWayne Eldridge said.
Officers responded to the area of Northside Park about 4 p.m. after a witness called police to report the boys scrawling graffiti with spray paint on a brick wall in an alley to the west of the 1200 block of North San Gabriel Avenue, the sergeant said. An officer arrived within seconds and witnessed the vandalism.
A cash reward of $100 was paid to the tipster who reported the tagging crew-related vandalism, police said. Azusa police began a program early this year which offers $100 rewards to witnesses who report graffiti vandalism, leading to an arrest.
Additionally, Eldridge said, the city seeks restitution from convicted vandals or their parents to pay for the cost of repairing the damage.

Three teens suspected in Azusa vandalism

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AZUSA — Police arrested three teens late Saturday on suspicion of scrawling graffiti on a car.
A resident called police about 9:10 p.m. to report seeing to teens tagging on a parked car in the 400 block of West Crescent Drive, according to Azusa police Sgt. DeWayne Eldridge.
The juveniles had fled the area when police arrived, but officers detained them nearby, Eldridge said. They were ultimately arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism.
Under a new city program that began in January, the person who reported the graffiti was issued a $100 reward shortly after the arrest, police said.
“The program offers a $100 instant cash reward for anyone who reports a graffiti/tagging incident which leads to an arrest,” Eldridge said in a written statement.
In addition to taking a “zero-tolerance” stance toward graffiti vandalism in Azusa, the city seeks restitution from convicted vandals and their parents to pay for the damage.

Azusa man suspected of graffiti vandalism

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AZUSA — Police arrested a 22-year-old Azusa man early Friday on suspicion of graffiti vandalism after he was spotted writing with a marker on a utility box, police said.
Juan Arrona was released with a citation following his arrest shortly after midnight Friday in the 400 block of West First Street, Azusa police Sgt. John Madaloni said in a written statement.
A resident called police to report seeing the vandalism taking place, and officers spotted Arrona walking away from the area, the sergeant said.
“Arrona was also in possession of a black marker which matched the fresh graffiti located on the utility box,” Madaloni said. “Arrona later admitted to his crime, but identified it as ‘wall art’ rather than graffiti.”
The damage to the utility box was estimated at $200, police added.
Azusa police encourage anyone who sees graffiti vandalism in the city to report it, officials said, and the department launched a program in January that rewards tipsters with cash rewards.
The program, started Jan. 22, offers $100 instant rewards for those who report graffiti incidents that lead to an arrest, Madaloni explained.
For the safety of the tipsters, he added, police will not discuss whether rewards were paid in any specific cases.
Even before the award, Azusa residents have proven themselves willing to cooperate with police to stop graffiti vandalism, Madaloni said.
“We’ve seen time and time again evidence of community pride, and that people see their role in combatting crime,” he said.

Azusa man suspected of possessing graffiti implements

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AZUSA — A report of a fight early Saturday led police to arrest a local man on suspicion of possessing graffiti implements, officials said.
David Aguilar, 19, was booked at the Azusa Police Department’s jail and released with a misdemeanor citation, according to Azusa police officials and county booking records.
Officers responded to a call about 1 a.m. reporting a fight, possibly involving a gun, in the 600 block of East Matchwood Street, Azusa police Sgt. John Madaloni said.
Police made contact with two men, the sergeant said. One of them — later identified as Aguilar — “was seen by an officer attempting to conceal an open container of beer and discarding a silver object nearby,” Madaloni said.
“The silver object turned out to be a stack of adhesive stickers, commonly referred to as ‘slap tag,” the sergeant said. “Slap tags are stickers with pre-written graffiti or symbols that tagger/graffiti vandals apply to property instead of directly defacing the surface of the property.”
Additional slap tags were found in Aguilar’s pockets and wallet, however no gun was discovered, police said.
Azusa police take a “zero-tolerance” approach toward graffiti and vandalism, Madaloni added, and the city also seeks restitution from convicted graffiti vandals or their parents to pay for damage caused by graffiti vandalism.

Azusa teen suspected of graffiti vandalism

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AZUSA — Police chased down and arrested a 15-year-old alleged graffiti vandal late Saturday, authorities said.
An Azusa police gang officer was patrolling about 10:40 p.m. when he noticed the teen spray-painting graffiti on the wall of a business in the 300 block of North Azusa Avenue, Azusa police Cpl. Rick Hayden said in a written statement.
“As the officer approached, the teen saw the officer and a short foot pursuit ensued with the teen hiding in a backyard,” he said. The teen, later identified as an Azusa resident, was soon arrested without further incident.
After being booked, Hayden said, the teen was released to a guardian with a written promise to appear in court.
The value of the graffiti damage was estimated at $200.
Hayden said Azusa police have a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to graffiti, and anyone who witnesses a vandalism is encouraged to call the police.
“The City of Azusa also seeks restitution from convicted graffiti vandals and/or their parents to pay for the cost of repairing the damage,” he added.

Azusa teens suspected in graffiti vandalism

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AZUSA — Police arrested two Azusa teens Wednesday on suspicion of graffiti vandalism, officials said.
A citizen called police about 5:05 p.m. to report seeing three teenage boys writing graffiti on signs in the parking lot of a CVS Pharmacy, 101. W. Foothill Blvd., Azusa police Cpl. Andy Rodriguez said.
Officers detained the boys and ultimately arrested two of them, he said. The young suspects admitted to scrawling the graffiti.
After being booked on suspicion of vandalism, the teens were released to their parents with written promises to appear in court, police said.
The graffiti caused an estimated $200 worth of damage, Rodriguez said.
“The Azusa Police Department encourages anyone who witnesses graffiti-related crime to immediately contact the police,” Rodriguez said. “With the public’s help, the Azusa Police Department has seen a significant increase in the number of vandalism-related arrests and successful prosecutions.”