Fairfax High student, 17, arrested for alleged tagging

Authorities say the boy sprayed graffiti on MTA buses and trains across the Los Angeles region, causing at least $38,000 in damage.
By Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 24, 2008
A 17-year-old accused tagger was arrested today at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles on suspicion of prolific graffiti vandalism aboard MTA buses and trains and at stations across the region, sheriff's officials said.

The youth, whose name was withheld because he is a juvenile, uses the moniker "Wonka" in his tagging and is part of a tagging crew known as the Urban Squad, Sheriff's Sgt. Augie Pando said.

Pando said Wonka was responsible for at least $38,000 in damage. Officials have documented at least 17 incidents of vandalism but said there may be many more, he added.

Fairfax High administrators located the teenager, a student at the school, on the campus, and he was arrested. "His tag was found on the bus bench right on the corner in front of Fairfax High," Pando said.

The youth was arrested on suspicion of multiple counts of felony vandalism.

richard.winton@latimes.com





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