Alleged MTA taggers arrested

Pressurized fire extinguishers, refilled with paint, that can shoot long distances to reach high areas were confiscated from the home of an alleged member of the Metro Transit Assassins tagging crew during a simultaneous raid of eight separate homes located throughout Los Angeles County. Eight adults were arrested during the raid. Items were booked into evidence in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Strapped into the back of L. A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Albert Zambrano’s police cruiser are 48 cans of spray paint that were booked into evidence following confiscation from alleged taggers’ homes.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

A gun and a book on graffiti history were among items taken from homes during Wednesday’s raid. Authorities have long battled the MTA tagging crew, which they say has put thousands of tags on businesses and public spaces, as well as transit buses and trains.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Among items of evidence from Wednesday’s raid were marijuana and $4,300 in cash.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Shapiro holds an image that shows the letters MTA painted along the L.A. riverbed. It was confiscated from the home of an alleged member of the MTA tagging crew. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that removing this MTA tag alone will cost $3.7 million because hazardous materials crews must create a dam to capture all the paint and runoff water so it doesn’t get into the riverbed.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Collins books into evidence a framed picture confiscated in Wednesday’s raid.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)