Recently in Graffiti Category
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.
SIERRA MADRE -- Visitors to Memorial Park Saturday morning found extensive graffiti damage, police said.
Benches, walls and the playground area of the park, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., were found to be vandalized, Sierra Madre police Sgt. Joe Ortiz said.
Officials estimated that the park sustained $800-$1,000 worth of damage.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sierra Madre police at 626-355-1414.
SIERRA MADRE -- A burglar smashed the window of a family's house early Saturday, but apparently ran off before getting inside, police said.
The incident was reported about 8 a.m. in the 600 block of Holly Trail Path, Sierra Madre police Sgt. Joe Ortiz said.
"Residents were home. They heard the sound of breaking glass," Ortiz said.
The would-be intruder apparently fled after realizing the home was occupied, the sergeant said. A description of the burglar was not available.
Police found that a window screen at the home had been pried off and a window smashed, he added.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sierra Madre police at 626-355-1414.
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 -- 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.
PASADENA -- Police arrested four teenage girls and sought two teenage boys on suspicion of causing thousands of dollars worth of vandalism damage at a Pasadena high school over the long holiday weekend, authorities said.
School officials returned to Marshall Fundamental School, 990 North Allen Avenue, Tuesday morning to find graffiti on every building on the campus, Pasadena police Lt. Phlunte Riddle said. The graffiti was largely consisted of obscenities.
"It was pretty extensive," Riddle said.
Surveillance cameras indicated that the vandalism occurred Saturday and led to the arrest of four 14-year-old girls, and the identification of two teenage boys who had not yet been arrested Wednesday, the lieutenant said.
The four girls were cited and released to their parents, she added.
Four of the six suspects attend the school, police said.
Police estimated the value of the damage at about $4,000.
WEST COVINA -- Police alleged a 17-year-old West Covina boy tagged seven locations in the city since November, causing about $1,300 in damages.
West Covina police Lt. Marty Sevilla said the teen was arrested Friday on suspicion of felony vandalism, resisting arrest and possession of a vandalism tool.
The incident began at 11:33 a.m. when an alarm was activated at the ITT Technical Institute building, 1530 W. Cameron Ave.
Sevilla said officers who went to the call saw the teen hiding in the bushes and thought he had something to do with the alarm.
The teen ran from the officers and allegedly tossed a marker during the chase. Police found the marker and also caught the boy by Orange Avenue.
Sevilla said the teen didn't vandalize the ITT building.
Because of the marker, he said the teen admitted to being part of a tagging crew. Police checked a database and matched the teen's alleged moniker to seven previous tagging incidents in the city.
The teen was later released to the custody of his parents. He has a Feb. 21 appearance at Pomona Juvenile Court.
Sevilla said the teen's parents are also facing a $1,000 fine under the West Covina municipal code.
- Ruby Gonzales
LA PUENTE -- Two La Puente gang members received 25-year prison sentences this week for shooting at a good Samaritan who spotted them scrawling graffiti and tried to call 9-1-1, authorities announced Saturday.Raul Montes De Oca, 26, and Edmond Gail, 22, pleaded guilty Monday in Pomona Superior Court to attempted murder and illegally firing a gun, along with the special allegation that the crimes were done for the benefit of a criminal street gang, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's officials and booking records. They are both known "East Side Puente" gang members.
A man was driving about 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 of last year at Azusa Avenue and Main Street when he spotted two gang members -- later identified as Montes De Oca and Gail -- spray-painting graffiti on the wall of a strip mall, sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
The good Samaritan pulled over in order to call 9-1-1 on his cell phone, but Montes De Oca and Gail spotted him, jumped in their car and drove toward him before he completed the call, Sgt. Luis Trejo said.
The two vehicles met at the mouth of the strip malls parking lot."The gang members, peering at the good Samaritan like wolves to a sheep, waived him past them," he said.
The man stopped at a stop sign nearby and again began to call 9-1-1 when he saw in his rear view mirror one of the gang members pointing a gun at him, officials said. A shot was fired, and the good Samaritan's rear windshield shattered.
The assailants then got back in their car and drove past the victim, Trejo said, again opening fire from their moving vehicle before fleeing the area. The victim was not shot, but his arm was "riddled with glass fragments" from his shattering car windows.
Deputies spotted Montes De Oca and Gail driving erratically in the area, recognized them as possible suspects in the shooting and arrested them, authorities said. Montes De Oca was detained in the vehicle, while Gail ran from the car and was found hiding nearby.
Gail eventually admitted to Gang Investigator Glen Eads that he threw the .38-caliber revolver used in the shooting in a bush as he fled from deputies and led them to the area where it was later recovered, officials said.
Investigators found that during the shooting, a bullet had gone through the window of a nearby home and lodged in a wall, Trejo said. No one inside the home was hurt.
According to booking records, both Montes De Oca and Gail were sent to serve their sentences at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic.
PHOTOS of Raul Montes De Oca (top) and Edmond Gail (bottom) courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
LA PUENTE -- An admitted gang was sentenced to a year in jail this week for spray-painting graffiti on three cars parked in front of La Puente homes, authorities said.
Eduardo Escobar, 18, of La Puente -- an admitted "Puente 13" gang member -- pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of felony vandalism in connection with the June 15 vandalism spree in the 15600 block of Loukelton Street, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Luis Trejo said.
The value of the damage was estimated at up to $1,000 per car, he added.
"Graffiti's just such an ugly thing (anywhere,)" Trejo said. "But when you walk out of your house and you see it on your car, and you have to drive around...I would just hate for that to happen to me."
"(Escobar) spray-painted in large letters: "Downer" and "PX3" on the three cars," sheriff's officials said in a written statement. "PX3" represents the Puente 13 street gang.
After several weeks of investigation headed by Detective Robert Chism, deputies ran across Escobar while on patrol, identified him as a Puente 13 gang member and began the process of serving him with the local gang injunction, officials said.
During interviews with Valinda Town Sheriff Deputy Jaime Moran, Escobar said he used the moniker of "Downer," officials said.
Recalling conversations with Chism regarding the "Downer" graffiti, Moran passed the information along, officials said. Chism then secured an arrest warrant for Escobar and a search warrant for his home.
Evidence of Puente 13 gang membership was found at his home, including the use of his moniker, "Downer," according to the written statement.
Once in custody, Escobar admitted
scrawling the graffiti on the cars out of boredom, Trejo said.
In addition to the jail sentence, officials said, Escobar will be on formal probation for three years upon his release.
PHOTOS courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
AZUSA -- Police arrested two teenage graffiti vandalism suspects Friday, authorities said.
The teens, a 14 and 16 years old, were booked on suspicion of vandalism and released to their parents with citations to appear in court, Azusa police Cpl. Rick Hayden said in a written statement. Both teens are Azusa residents.
A witness called police about 8:30 p.m. to report seeing the teens tagging on a wall near some train tracks in the 400 block of West Foothill Boulevard, the corporal said.
"The teens were located and arrested without incident," he said. "During an evidence search of the area, a backpack loaded with spray paint cans was located."
The graffiti caused about $300 worth of damage, police said.
Azusa police have taken a "zero-tolerance" stance toward graffiti, Hayden said, and encourage anyone who witnesses it to call the police immediately.
"With the public's help the Azusa Police Department has seen a significant increase in the number of vandalism-related arrests," he said. "The City of Azusa also seeks restitution from convicted graffiti vandals and/or their parents to pay for the cost of repairing the damage."
NORWALK -- California Highway Patrol officers chased down and arrested two young men early Wednesday after they were spotted scrawling graffiti along the 605 Freeway, authorities said.
Manuel Martinez, 20, of Norwalk and Christian Vazquez, 18, of Artesia were booked on suspicion of vandalism, CHP officials said in a written statement.
Two CHP officers were patrolling about 1:30 a.m. on the 605 Freeway near Firestone Boulevard -- an area frequently plagued by graffiti -- when they spotted Martinez and Vazquez, officials said.
They men fled when they noticed the officers approaching, but were quickly captured on Firestone Boulevard, officials said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Martinez was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail, while Vazquez was released Wednesday after posting $10,000 bail.
AZUSA -- A South El Monte man didn't notice a uniformed police officer Sunday as he vandalized a pay phone with gang graffiti, authorities said.
An officer managed to sneak up behind John Escamillo, 21, as he vandalized a pay phone about 11:45 a.m. near Foothill Boulevard and San Gabriel Avenue, Azusa police Sgt. Andy Sutcliffe said in a written statement.
"The officer walked up behind Escamillo without being seen and arrested him without resistance," Sutcliffe said.
He was booked at the Azusa Police Department's jail before being released with a citation, police said.
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.
ROWLAND HEIGHTS -- Authorities are investigating graffiti vandalism at a Jehovah's Witness church as a hate crime.
The damage was first reported shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday at the Jehovah's Witness: Rowland Heights Congregation at 19111 Killian Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said.
"Deputies were directed to graffiti that had been spray-painted on the exterior walls of the religious facility," Sgt. Angie Wilkinson said in a written statement. "The graffiti was based on religion."
Lt. Mike Brown described the graffiti as "offensive words, phrases and symbols," though specific details of what was written were not released.
The graffiti was believed to have been done overnight, Wilkinson added, between 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday morning.
In addition to being a felony vandalism, with damage estimated at about $500, authorities are also considering the incident to be a felony hate crime.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Walnut-Diamond Bar Station.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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