On Wednesday morning a team of LAPD and probation officers, along with Councilman Dennis Zine and the Department of Children and Family Services, conducted tagger probation compliance check operation. 11 West Valley homes of subjects who were on probation, with search and seizure conditions, for graffiti and related vandalism offenses were checked and one person was netted.
For Zine, who funded the operation with Council funds, this was a pro-active measure. “I will continue to aggressively combat this destructive behavior in Council District Three and the City of Los Angeles,” he said. “As part of my longstanding commitment to public safety, I have dedicated funds to cover police overtime costs to send a strong message to taggers that graffiti and vandalism will not be tolerated in our community.”
The one violator, who Zine said is an admitted gang member, was arrested for having a knife in a plastic sheath found on his dining room table in addition to narcotics paraphernalia--both probation violations. The suspect said he was carrying the knife for protection.
