SIMI VALLEY : 3 Face Arraignment in Tagging Spree
Three Simi Valley men are scheduled to be arraigned today on felony charges of vandalism after police arrested them during a weekend graffiti spree in San Francisco.
The alleged taggers, who were arrested with two others from Southern California, were taken into custody about 2 a.m. Sunday after San Francisco police responded to a complaint of graffiti, Lt. Daniel Lawson said.
When officers arrived on Clay Street, they saw the five in the area and some had paint on their hands, Lawson said. At least four buildings had been tagged and damages were more than $5,000, he said.
The incident is unusual because taggers generally target businesses near or in their hometowns, Lawson said.
“They generally just spray in their own territory,” Lawson said. “This is somewhat unique in that their artistic license has been extended a few hundred miles.”
Arrested were Kevin Martin, 18; Shawn Buss, 22, and Jesse Rosen, 22, all of Simi Valley. Jason Drew, 23, of Northridge and Carter Hogue, 21, of Lake Elsinore were also arrested. The five were being held at San Francisco County Jail.
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