NEWPORT BEACH : 4 Suspects Arrested in Spray-Paint Spree

Four members of a suspected graffiti “tagging crew” from Los Angeles County were arrested after they allegedly spray-painted their moniker in 25 separate locations in the city, police said Friday.

A resident in the 400 block of 30th Street called police Thursday after seeing a youth spray-painting property about 11:45 p.m. The police officer called to the scene saw one of the suspects, Paul Bonta, 19, of Torrance, spray-painting, Police Sgt. Andy Gonis said.

Bonta threw the spray-paint can at the approaching patrol car and ran, Gonis said. He was chased for three blocks before he was caught and arrested, Gonis said.

One block away, a second resident reported three men hiding in a patio. Police arrested them without incident.

In addition to Bonta, police arrested Darren T. Moss, 20, of Rolling Hills Estates and Robert Beckoff, 19, and Ezra Schaffer, 19, both of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Bonta had been on probation for an assault charge and for a previous tagging incident as well, Gonis said. Beckoff and Schaffer had already been assigned community service work for a previous spray-painting incident at the time of their arrest, Gonis said.

The four said they were in Newport Beach visiting a relative.

“One of the suspects boasted to officers that they could have painted the whole town if they wanted to,” Gonis said.

All four were being held in Newport Beach City Jail on charges of conspiracy to commit vandalism. Bail has been set at $10,000 each.