A man suspected of using a power saw to cut down numerous trees on city property in downtown Los Angeles, the Westlake District and Glassell Park was charged Thursday with eight counts of felony vandalism.
Samuel Patrick Groft, 45, was arrested around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Custer Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, adjacent to the Hollywood (101) Freeway and Arroyo Seco (110) Parkway, in downtown Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The Los Angeles resident has been jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail since his arrest.
Police said Groft, while riding a bike and armed with an electric chainsaw, is suspected of cutting down trees:
— in the 500 block of North Broadway, near Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, in downtown Los Angeles around midnight Thursday;
— in the 1500 block of West Eighth Street, near Union Avenue, in the Westlake district around 3:40 p.m. Friday;
— at the 2Cal skyscraper in the Bunker Hill section of downtown at 350 S. Grand Ave., between Third and Fourth streets, around 1:20 a.m. Saturday; and
— in the 300 block of Treadwell Street, adjacent to Forest Lawn-Glendale and San Fernando Road, in Glassell Park, around 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The LAPD issued a Community Alert on Tuesday afternoon with pictures of the suspect. Groft’s arrest was announced at 6:34 p.m. Tuesday.
Police said they were seeking additional victims because it is believed that Groft may be responsible for additional unreported crimes.
Anyone with information regarding the tree-cutting incidents was urged to call LAPD Central Burglary Detective Gutierrez at 213-924-8930. Calls during non-business hours should be directed to the watch commander at 213-486-6618. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
Meanwhile, City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents downtown neighborhoods, introduced a motion Wednesday to increase fines for anyone who injures or cuts city trees. The city would consider tiered penalties based on the age, extent of injury and percentage of tree canopy lost. City officials would also look at creating an outreach plan to boost awareness of the city’s regulations protecting trees.
The motion will come before the council’s Public Works and Public Safety committees.
“With someone cutting down several trees in the public right-of-way, and for many of our DTLA residents, the public right-of-way is an extension of their home, their urban backyard,” Jurado said Wednesday. “So, the loss of these trees is personal, especially for communities that so fiercely advocates for the revitalization of their neighborhood.”
According to the councilwoman, the city is working with LA Conservation Corps on solutions to replace the lost trees.
“Stay tuned for more news regarding the replacement of the trees,” Jurado said.