Thread: CA: Raid caps graffiti case

Graffiti is a major ugly issue here and has been for decades. Sick of it!
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Raid caps graffiti case
Tagging damage at least $400,000
BY GIDEON RUBIN, Staff Writer
LA Daily News
Article Last Updated:03/15/2007 07:40:06 PM PDT

PALMDALE - Three tagging suspects were arrested in an early-morning raid Thursday and a fourth was expected to surrender later in a six-week investigation of $400,000 in graffiti vandalism from the Antelope Valley to Ventura, authorities said.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Joseph Mendoza, 27; Carlos Chave, 26; and Joshua Calderon, 23, all of Palmdale, on suspicion of felony vandalism. Another suspect, whose name was not released, was contacted by phone and agreed to surrender, authorities said.

The four are suspected of causing at least $400,000 damage in the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, Mojave and Ventura. Deputies said targets included the historic Freedom Train in Mojave, which served as a traveling museum in the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976.

"In terms of dollar amount, they were the most prolific (graffiti crew)," sheriff's Sgt. Kyle Bistline said.

The raid produced evidence that suggests the crew may have evolved into a criminal street gang, Bistline said.

Bistline said Mendoza is a member of a Los Angeles gang and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and a sawed-off shotgun.

Calderon, a student at Mission College in Sylmar, was found at a Sunland home where authorities said they also seized marijuana and a .22-caliber firearm.

The investigation was launched by Detective Bob Schneider of the Santa Clarita station and Detective Greg Bruner of the Palmdale station. Schneider contacted Bruner after noticing a rash of graffiti at Interstate5 near Highway126.

"The thing that some people don't understand about graffiti is property values plummet when people see this," Bistline said.

"It's a (crime) that we take very seriously up here."

http://www.dailynews.com/antelopevalley/ci_5447501

Joshua Calderon, 23

A cousin of El Presidente??

Doesn't say if they were illegals but anyone who destroys property should be forced to clean up other graffiti for several years. As for the drugs and weapons, off to jail and let them help build the fence or pick crops.

Bistline said Mendoza is a member of a Los Angeles gang and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and a sawed-off shotgun.

Calderon, a student at Mission College in Sylmar, was found at a Sunland home where authorities said they also seized marijuana and a .22-caliber firearm.

I'll bet any amount of money that the parents will claim, "I didn't know he was ina gang."