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Organization: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station
Date: September 29, 2009
Tagger Tagged With Several Felonies
Deputies from the City of Santa Clarita's COBRA Team and School Resource Deputies teamed up to arrest a prolific tagger. The Canyon Country youth is suspected in 52 incidents of graffiti related vandalism totaling $23,000 in damages throughout Canyon Country over a 13 month period - New school campus cameras and follow up investigation led to the arrest of a Canyon Country youth suspected in connection with 52 incidents of graffiti related vandalism and tagging dating back to August 2008.
Deputies from the City of Santa Clarita/Santa Clarita Sheriff's COBRA team had been searching for a prolific tagger who was repeatedly vandalising street signs, walls, sidewalks, bus benches, and other public property throughout the Canyon Country area. The suspect was continuously tagging the same words for months on end and basically thumbing his nose at his own city and authorities resulting in an estimated $23,000 in damages, all told, over a 13 month period.
Thanks to a proactive School Resource Deputy, investigators got the break they had been hoping for after a tagging incident on the campus of Canyon High School on Saturday, September 12, 2009 was caught on tape. The school deputy reviewed videotape footage of the crime and launched an immediate investigation into the identity of the perpetrator. Using other investigative tools and techniques, the deputy was able to identify a suspect, a senior at another local high school, who is believed to be responsible for the crimes. Additional investigation and the use of the City of Santa Clarita's award winning Graffiti Tracking system reportedly linked the suspect to the other incidents of vandalism. The suspect, Garrett Williams, MW/18, of Canyon Country was arrested without incident on Monday, September 21, 2009. Deputies report that he was in possession of vandalism related tools at the time of his arrest. He turned 18 years old just days before the September 12th incident and will face charges as an adult for that crime. He will be charged as a juvenile in connection with the other incidents.
The suspect was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on felony charge of Vandalism and a misdemeanor charge of Possession of Vandalism Tools. He posted bond on September 25, 2009 and has been released pending future court proceedings.
The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time. -ref 16477/16611
If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.
