Graffiti artist tags again, this time Red Mountain

Saturday, December 16, 2006
KELLI HEWETT TAYLOR
News staff writer
A serial graffiti artist who has eluded Birmingham police for six months has struck again, this time on Red Mountain along U.S. 31.

The unlawful painter has sprayed or "tagged" signs, buildings and walls through Birmingham, Hoover, Trussville, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills, among other municipalities.

His works are characterized by multiple colors and the word DAZE, which is believed to be the artist's street name. None of the DAZE work has revealed any political or personal messages.

"He has hit just about every neighborhood on the Interstate 65 and Interstate 20/59 corridor, and now he's working south," said Detective Otis Luke of the violent crime and gang task force of the Birmingham Police. "He works at night, on weekends and holidays, mostly."

The South Precinct's crime prevention officer, Devoris Ragland, said the Red Mountain work appeared within the last week. Officers photographed it Friday night for investigation.

Luke says the designs seem too intricate to be gang-related.

"Most gang members won't do things that are so extensive with all those colors," he said. "They just use their gang color, and a symbol, or spell out the gang name to mark their territory."

Luke says most "taggers" are young men in their teens or early to mid-20s, thrilled by seeing their work in public.

"He's planning his art," Luke said. "He's actually a pretty good artist, but he's costing businesses and taxpayers a lot of money to clean up."

E-mail: ktaylor@bhamnews.com GRAFFITIXX -- GRAFFITI:

Police say tags not likely gang-related