Police Question Suspected Tagger, 17
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SANTA ANA — A 17-year-old boy, suspected of being one of the most active graffiti taggers in Orange County, was picked up for questioning by police Thursday and released into the custody of his parents.
California Highway Patrol Officer Angel Johnson said members of a graffiti task force have accused the youth, whom they did not identify because he is a juvenile, of painting the moniker “Drama” on thousands of walls, poles and freeway signs over the past two years.
“He would tag all day,” Johnson said. “Day, night, weekends, it didn’t matter.”
Investigators apprehended the youth at a friend’s house in Santa Ana late Wednesday and intend to ask the district attorney to file vandalism charges, Johnson said.
Investigators estimated that city and highway maintenance officials have spent at least $15,000 to paint over the markings. The boy allegedly tagged with friends or alone, Johnson said.
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