“Arrest made - graffiti tagger wanted for defacing Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Venice” from LASD

Thursday July 14th, 2016 :: 11:37 a.m. PDT

Advisory

Arrest made - graffiti tagger wanted for defacing Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Venice

Angel Castro, a 24-year old, male, Hispanic, was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon, July 13, 2016. He was wanted by LASD Transit Policing Division detectives in connection with the defacement of a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Venice, California just before Memorial Day this year. The wall is located at the rear of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Division 6.

Castro, who uses the moniker “LITER” (pronounced LIGHT-er) was one of the four monikers identified earlier this month by the lead detective on the case, Michael Thibodeaux. Detective Thibodeaux secured a warrant for Castro’s arrest. Castro was taken into custody without incident in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles by members of the Sheriff’s Department’s Transit Policing Division Crime Impact Team.

During the initial interview with Detective Thibodeaux, Suspect Castro admitted to his role in the vandalism of the Veterans Memorial Wall. Castro was booked at the LASD Century Regional Detention Facility for violation of 594(b)(1) PC - Felony Vandalism. His bail is currently set at $95,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned later this week and could face additional charges as the investigation is still ongoing. LASD Transit Policing Division detectives continue to seek additional information regarding additional suspects, with monikers “PHEB”, “NONER”, and “SNAKE”, that are connected with the tagging of the Veterans Memorial Wall.

If you have information regarding the identities of the other monikers believed to be connected to this crime or any additional information please call the LASD Transit Policing Division detectives at (888) 950-SAFE(7233), or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477). You also can text the letters “TIPLA” plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Written by / Media Inquiries:

Ramon Montenegro, L.E.T.
Transit Policing Division – Public Information Officer
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(213) 922-3649

24 Hr. : (888) 950-SAFE (7233)

Email: [email protected]

Transit Watch LA website: http://www.transitwatchla.org/

LASD website: www.lasd.org

Twitter: @TransitLASD http://twitter.com/TransitLASD

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Address/Location
LASD - Transit Policing Division, Los Angeles County Sheriff

One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop: 99-PL-15
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-Emergency: (888) 950-SAFE (7233)

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

***********ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE*************

LASD Transit detectives believe that they have identified four of the monikers used by the taggers believed to be responsible for the bulk of the damage done to a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Venice, California. The wall is located at the rear of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Division 6. Just before Memorial Day of this year citizens in the area noticed additional graffiti done to the wall. Sheriff’s Transit Policing deputies were called to begin the investigation into the defacement.

Lead detective on the case, Detective Michael Thibodeaux, is a graffiti and tagging crime expert. Using several investigative techniques he’s been able to identify the main monikers on the wall that honors service personnel killed in the line of duty during the Vietnam War. “NONER”, “PHEB”, “SNAKE’, and “LITER”, appear to be the names that created the most damage to the wall.

Detective Thibodeaux discovered that the “NONER” moniker was linked to a tagging group based in the bay area. In the attached flyer is a photograph of the person believed to be NONER.

The person in the photo appears to be a male, White, or Hispanic. As you can see in the flyer, the moniker that the person is painting appears to match one from the memorial wall. (see attached photo) NONER may travel between the Los Angeles area and bay area regularly.

If you have information regarding the identity of NONER or any of the other monikers believed to be connected to this crime please call the LASD Transit Policing Division detectives at (888) 950-SAFE(7233), or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477). You also can text the letters “TIPLA” plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Please remember, if you SEE SOMETHING that you believe is suspicious or doesn’t look right to you, SAY SOMETHING by calling: (888) 950-SAFE (7233), or your local police department. You can also use the Transit Watch LA App, to report crime or advise of something/someone suspicious on the transit system. The App can be downloaded at the Apple App Store, or on Google Play for Android Devices. http://transitwatchla.org/ (remember though, calling is always best!!)

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