Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Art Sex Crime: Doing Time? Cops Bust Green Line & School Tagging Crew

spray-paint-canisters.jpg
Photo by Lord Jim via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Authorities from multiple agencies banded together to bust 28 suspects thought to be affiliated with a prolific South Bay Tagging Crew. Those suspects are thought to be involved in ASC, or "Art Sex Crime," a crew tied to about $100,000 in damage to the Metro Green Line and local school property, according to the Daily Breeze. At least nine arrests have been made, and more are expected.Officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District raided homes and served warrants in Inglewood, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Torrance, Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy and South Gate.

The vandalism includes "trains, platforms, benches and other property on the Green Line from Redondo Beach to Norwalk," as well as at area schools. Many of those confronted by authorities today said they had given up tagging. Evidence, like Metro tickets, stencils, spray paint cans, marking pens, and other supplies were gathered as evidence.

ASC has been around for nearly a decade, and boasts about 100 members. The LASD call the "a tremendous nuisance."

The colorful displays, along with marking pens, spray paint cans and other materials, were taken for evidence.

The Daily Breeze captured this video of one arrest:

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today