Suspected L.A. Tree Vandal Arrested with Chainsaw

Arrest of Suspected Tree Vandal

• 🚨 Police apprehended a man believed to be responsible for vandalizing dozens of trees in downtown Los Angeles.
• ⛓️ The suspect was taken into custody while still in possession of a chainsaw, the tool used in the vandalism.

Vandalism Incident Details

• 🌳 The suspect was captured on security cameras using a chainsaw to cut down multiple trees on 8th and Union in the Westlake area on a Saturday afternoon.
• 📹 A building manager discovered the damage on Monday morning and used security camera footage to identify the suspect.
• 🚲 Footage showed a tall white man with a goatee, wearing a backpack, riding a bike with a power saw.

Wider Scope of Damage

• 🌲 Police believe the same suspect is responsible for sawing down dozens of trees in several areas of downtown L.A. over several days.
• 🛣️ A portion of South Grand Avenue was left treeless, with orange cones now marking where trees once stood.

Investigation and Apprehension

• 📢 The LAPD released a community alert on Tuesday evening for the chainsaw-wielding suspect.
• 📍 Officers in the Rampart area recognized the suspect as a homeless man known to frequent certain locations.
• 🤝 They located and apprehended him at one of these spots, finding the chainsaw on his person.

City Response

• 🛠️ City crews are currently assessing the damage and planning to replace the trees quickly, according to the Mayor's office.