Probation Revoked and Arrest Ordered for Vandal ‘Chaka’

Less than 24 hours after he was released on $250 bail for marijuana possession and trespassing, the convicted graffiti vandal who calls himself “Chaka” was in custody again Monday.

Daniel Bernardo Ramos, 18, who left more than 10,000 “Chakas” scribbled on property from Orange County to San Francisco, allegedly violated probation twice within four days after his release from jail last week.

And so on Monday, the same court commissioner who had warned that he would “not have any problems” sending the notorious graffiti tagger back to jail if he violated his probation, issued a bench warrant for Ramos at the request of the city attorney’s office.

Ramos, of Boyle Heights, and two friends were arrested in Griffith Park on suspicion of trespassing. Ramos was also booked for possession of marijuana. All three were released that evening on $250 bail each.

Last Thursday--a day after Ramos was released on probation after five months in jail--authorities believed he was the culprit who had just scrawled “Chaka” on a courthouse elevator.

Both incidents were enough to prompt the city attorney’s office to file the probation violation, spokesman Mike Qualls said. Ramos’ three-year probation ordered him to stay away from wide-tipped marking pens and not to violate any law.

Municipal Court Commissioner Robert Sandoval on Monday agreed to the request and revoked Ramos’ probation. He issued a warrant for his arrest and set bail at $30,000. A probation violation hearing has yet to be scheduled. Ramos could face a two-year jail sentence.

The city attorney’s office is considering whether to file charges against Ramos and his two friends for the elevator vandalism.

One day out of jail, Ramos was on his way to see a probation officer. As he and two friends stepped out of a courthouse elevator, a security officer found “Chaka” scrawled on the door, its yellow ink still wet enough to smear. All three denied that it was their handiwork.

During sentencing, Sandoval warned Ramos: “If I find you have violated any of the terms of this probation, I will not have any problems putting you back in jail.”

Sandoval ordered Ramos to spend a minimum of 65 hours a month for the next two years cleaning up graffiti, get a high school equivalency diploma and undergo two years of psychological counseling.

As of Monday afternoon, Los Angeles police detectives were looking for Ramos. “We’ve checked a few places, and we haven’t found him yet,” said Detective Jim McCann.