Wary of gangs, authorities fight graffiti
"Tagging" is on the rise in Marysville and Arlington - not just in urban areas.

By Scott Pesznecker
Herald Writer






EVERETT - The wall that runs along I-5 in south Everett is hard to see from nearby roads.

It's a perfect spot for graffiti.

"The back side of that wall is just a giant tagger heaven," Snohomish County Sheriff's Office detective Stephen Haley said. "It's literally a mile, two miles of empty board that they do their painting on."

Graffiti, or "tagging," appears to be on the rise throughout Snohomish County, police and residents say. More tagging is being found in urban areas of the county, but smaller communities such as Arlington and Marysville are reporting increases, too.

Most of the tagging happens out of view from busy streets. It's often across the backs of buildings or on fences and dumpsters.

It can't be allowed, said Haley, whose duties as a gang-prevention specialist include keeping a lookout for graffiti.

"It all goes back to the broken-window theory," Haley said. "You try to take care of the small things so they don't become big things."

Marysville has been hit exceptionally hard by taggers this summer, mostly in alleys and parking lots along State Avenue, Marysville police Cmdr. Ralph Krusey said.

The Marysville Skate Park was closed in early August after vandals spray-painted graffiti, damaged fences and left behind garbage. Damage was close to $4,000.

"We are constantly on the lookout for it," Krusey said. "It's an eyesore to the community, and we will do whatever we can to curtail it."

Graffiti isn't a new problem in Snohomish County.

Most of the culprits are teenagers and young adults looking for amusement or attention, police say. Authorities also are finding some gang-related graffiti.

Much of the graffiti, however, appears to be the work of a handful of people, whom Haley described as prolific taggers.

About a month ago, sheriff's deputies arrested a 17-year-old they think is one of the county's more active vandals. His favored tagging locale was the sound barrier that stretches along I-5 between 112th Street SE and 124th Street SE.

"If I added up all the times I've seen his name, it would probably be 50-plus locations," Haley said.

People who are arrested for spraying graffiti can face misdemeanor or felony charges. It depends on how much damage has been done.

Property owners usually are left with the cost of removing graffiti from their properties.

The Downtown Everett Association uses maintenance fees from its members to remove graffiti from a 17-block area around Hewitt Avenue.

Sue Strickland, the association's downtown services manager, said she's noticed more graffiti in the outskirts of downtown, where there are fewer businesses and people.

"This is not an inviting place for taggers because too many things are going on, and they can be seen," she said of downtown. "They're going to pick more obscure areas or vacant places."

The Lynnwood Police Department is working to organize a volunteer graffiti removal service, police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said. In the past, a Marysville group has also provided free graffiti removal, Krusey said.

Graffiti is a problem that must be rubbed out promptly, Haley said.

"If people start seeing that kind of disrepair, then some of those people are going to feel like they can take it a step further," he said. "It's something you'd like to nip in the bud."

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or speznecker@ heraldnet.com.