Man Accused of Occurring Tree-Killing Spree with Chainsaw Arrested

After quite a few bushes have been reduce down all through Los Angeles, a suspect has been arrested in reference to the crime.

On Tuesday, April 22, the Los Angeles Police Division introduced the arrest of Samuel Patrick Groft, who’s accused of felony vandalism for allegedly utilizing a chainsaw to chop down bushes within the areas of downtown Los Angeles, the Westlake District, and Glassell Park.

The L.A. resident was arrested round 4:30 p.m., native time that very same day, when LAPD Rampart Detectives situated him close to Custer Avenue and West Sundown Boulevard. His bail was set to $150,000, per on-line jail information reviewed by PEOPLE.

Groft’s arrest comes shortly after a neighborhood alert was issued by the LAPD, warning to “use warning and don’t strategy.”

Police stated detectives situated proof linking Groft to the chopping down of bushes on April 17, 18, 19 and 22. The bushes have been reduce down all through numerous instances of the day, together with round 12:00 a.m., on the 500 block of North Broadway Avenue and round 2:00 p.m., within the 300 block of Treadwell Road.

Whereas an investigation is underway, police estimated throughout a press convention on Wednesday that the variety of bushes reduce down was 11, in line with KNBC. The harm to a minimum of eight of the bushes is estimated so as to add as much as $347,000, per the outlet.

“I’ve by no means seen anybody go and assault bushes, particularly across the time of Earth Day. Everyone needed to know who did it and why. We all know the who. The why might be a part of the investigation,” stated LAPD Commander Lilian Carranza on the press convention, per KNBC.

Within the press launch, police stated Groft’s reserving photograph was being launched as a result of detectives are “in search of extra victims as they imagine the suspect could also be accountable for extra unreported crimes.” PEOPLE has reached out to the LAPD for remark.

Mayor Karen Bass spoke out in regards to the incident in an announcement obtained by KABC-TV, calling it “really past comprehension.”

“Metropolis public works crews are assessing the harm and we might be planning to shortly change these broken bushes,” the assertion stated. “LAPD has opened an investigation into what occurred and people accountable have to be held accountable.”

Based on KTTV, Metropolis Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado launched a movement Wednesday that may come earlier than the council’s public works and public security committees to extend fines for anybody who injures or cuts metropolis bushes.

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Anybody with info associated to the tree-cutting incident is requested to name the LAPD Rampart Housebreaking Theft Detectives at (213) 484-3490. Calls throughout non-business hours or the weekend needs to be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).