Arrest of two graffiti taggers clears 1300 cases

Friday, December 15, 2006 3:05 PM CST

Graffiti has been a growing problem in Fort Bend County, but it may slow down a bit after Rosenberg police Wednesday arrested a group of juveniles who have admitted to defacing more than 1,300 places over the past two years.

Two suspects were taken into custody, while a third awaits an arrest warrant, said Sgt. Aaron Slater. The "taggers," as graffiti artists call themselves, are ages 15, 16 and 17.

After an extensive investigation, officers with the RPD's Narcotics and Reocurring Crime Squad obtained confessions from the members of two "tagging crews" known as "Wicked Art Kings" and "South Empire Taggers," groups that had been consistently committing graffiti vandalism throughout the county, said Carol Rees, police spokesperson.

The suspects admitted to spray painting their graffiti at multiple locations in Rosenberg, Richmond, Sugar Land and Stafford, even as far away as Wharton, Houston, San Marcos, Austin and San Antonio over the past two years.

Property damage to buildings, vehicles, bridges, signs and other public areas was enough to qualify the offenses as state jail felonies.

As of Wednesday, two of the juveniles had been taken to the county Juvenile Detention Center.

The suspects, who used the signatures of "Mave," "Maveoner," "Matix," "Moka Dot Com," "Kamo" and "Rush," told investigators they wanted to show off their art to the public and "make their mark," Rees said.