Anti-graffiti task force arrests 42 in L.A. County sweep

A multi-agency task force arrested 42 alleged taggers across Los Angeles County today in an early morning sweep of probationers.

The anti-graffiti task force nabbed 23 probation violators and found 15 firearms as officers searched the homes of dozens of taggers on probation. "This eyesore of graffiti is something no one respects and desires," Sheriff Lee Baca said.

Among those detained was a tagger who uses the names Asko and Sloter and is believed responsible for vandalizing 88 buses, Baca said.

"This man has tagged more things than everyone else combined," Baca said.

-- Richard Winton

Photo: Sheriff Lee Baca at news conference today. Credit: Richard Winton / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[WCH III]

Bravo to those working towards a reduction in LA's plague of taggers! However, like in the nation's 'drug wars' brute force is unlikely to make much difference in what is mostly a social epidemic. Tagging is directly related to gang structure and territorial control. And Los Angeles has a serious problem with it.

Until the people of this city are able to discern the difference between a GRAFFITO and the willful TAG of a gangbanger, we will continue to hear outraged protests over big billboards in and out of city hall and from high on the mountains, while people are shot to death for asking a kid to stop messing up the street. It really isn't a matter of aesthetics!

[AngrtyTaxpayer]

I really have to wonder if this is the best way to spend police resources. These kids are just doing graffiti. I would rather they go throw paint on something then shoot each other, or run drugs, or any number of other problems that we have in the LA area. The police have the ability to go out and spend how many manhours tracking some kids down for doing graffiti, but can't seem to make our streets safe for our kids to walk down.
Stop wasting our tax dollars arresting kids for graffiti and instead use them to stop the violence in our communities.

[steve rodriguez]

Since Obama doesn't want to use the word terrorist anymore then I'll say it, these are domestic terrorist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They ruin our quality of life here in LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sick of them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[classz_parade]

According to this article, a multi-agency task force arrested 42 taggers as 23 are probation violators and 15 firearms were found in their homes. Unexpectedly, the officers were in an anti-graffiti task force and Sheriff Lee Baca said "This eyesore of graffiti is something no one respects and desires."
Graffiti should not be disrespected so much, because graffiti is not always bad. Teenagers and young adults tend to do graffiti, because society can be too hard on young people. They aren't respected and appreciated enough, so they do graffiti. Their civil liberties allow them to express themselves in many ways such as graffiti. Ensured by the First Amendment, they are allowed freedom of speech. This allows individual participation and the expression of ideas, also it allows any type of worshipping or practices. Doing graffiti is an expression and practice of ideas and opinions, which means that the government has its limits interfering with young people's civil liberties. Although the government can arrests criminals like graffiti makers, usually the winner of these cases tend to favor criminals. Graffiti should not be look down on, because graffiti is art, just like spoken words, poems, and music. If they are protected by law, so is graffiti.

[eddie meza]

honestly, they need to really focus on the actual issues within our country. they spend millions if not billions on graffiti task force and stuff,but yet they dont wanna spend that money on helping people who need the help.you've got people with no jobs,house,or food, and yet they decide to spend so much on vandalism. if you think about it they wouldnt have this problem if all the legal walls that were spread around during the early 90's and late 80's werent torn down or banned.