Alleged Graffiti Artist Arrested After 5-Year Tagging Spree

SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA.com) — A 23-year-old man suspected of tagging approximately 750 locations in the Santa Clarita Valley over a five-year period has been arrested.

Isiah Garcia was arrested Thursday on felony charges and was free on his own recognizance.

Detectives believe Garcia used the graffiti monikers of "RANE" and "KASE" since 2009 and used spray paint, permanent markers, etching tools, and adhesive stickers to leave his mark on windows, walls, and almost any other stationary object within the Santa Clarita Valley, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Authorities learned of "RANE's" identity and served a search warrant Thursday at Garcia's home in the 25200 block of Everett Drive in Newhall.

"Detectives recovered numerous cans of spray paint, spray paint tips, permanent markers, etching tools, adhesive stickers (slap tags), and other evidence linking Mr. Garcia to the names, 'RANE' and 'KASE'," officials said.

Neighbor Debbi Rizkovsky said she first started noticing graffiti on her street a few years ago.

"(Graffiti was on) curbs, trashcans, things like that," Rizkovsky said. "All of a sudden, we were getting a rash of something we had never had before."

Garcia has been released from jail, and is said to be cooperating with investigators.

The monetary value of the damage reportedly done by Garcia was still under investigation and authorities believe there are still outstanding incidents of vandalism that have yet to be reported.

"The detectives are still in the process of gathering the hundreds of incidents that have occurred over the last five years," LA County Sheriff's deputy Josh Dubin said.

Anyone with damage to their property should contact the LASD's Santa Clarita Valley Station at (661)255-1121.