Who is John Scott? LA's Oldest Suspected Graffiti Vandal
Who is John Scott?
That's the handle of one of the oldest alleged graffiti vandals ever caught in Los Angeles county, authorities said.
The Los Angeles Times reports that a 73-year-old tagging suspect, John Scott was arrested recently on suspicion of felony vandalism.
Detectives spent hours interviewing Scott to figure out his background.
Until his arrest, the oldest street vandal caught by police was 36.
Scott turns 74 next month.
"Who is John Scott?" stickers began popping up around L.A. on buses, light poles and street signs -- sometimes even with their own hand-drawn monikers.
One bus rider told the Times that he saw Scott, an older man with gray hair and a brief case on the No. 780 bus. He posted some orange stickers but abruptly got off the bus when he noticed he was being videotaped, the witness said.
Recently, police spotted an older-looking man placing orange and black bumper stickers near the downtown subway station on the hub's main stairwell. Scott had stickers in his pockets as well in a black briefcase he carried with him. His stickers promote his web site, which sells T-shirts and hats asking "Who is John Scott?"
Why might someone buy such merchandise? As Scott's website puts it, to "amuse your friends, confound your enemies, and inspire the masses to wonder what the hell is going on."
In the Times article, Sheriff's Lt. Erik Ruble explained that is difficult to peg graffiti artists. "It just goes to show, the graffiti culture in Los Angeles is not age-specific and is very diverse."
Authorities suspect Scott of causing several thousand dollars in damage, and he is being held in custody on $20,000 bail.
He faces at least one felony vandalism charge when he is arraigned today. Deputies did not immediately know if he had retained an attorney.
Guess the intrigue behind John Scott is over now.
- Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Graffiti Vandalism Legislation (Office of the Governor)
- Editorial: New weapon on taggers they must clean graffiti (Ventura County Star)
- Graffiti on Public Property in California (FindLaw)
- Classifications of Crimes (provided by Maynard, Truland & Ware, L.L.C.)
- Criminal Defense FAQ (provided by Daniel, Thom & Katzman, P.C.)
