The Calgary Police Service has charged a man with graffiti offences following an investigation by the Joint Graffiti Investigative Team.

On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, police responded to reports of a man spraying graffiti on a fence in the 0 to 100 block of Arbour Ridge Close N.W. The man was gone when officers arrived, however, a witness had taken photographs of the suspect and provided them to police.

The Joint Graffiti Investigative Team took over the case and were able to connect the suspect to five other graffiti offences that occurred during May and June of 2017.

On Tuesday, June 7, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in the 0 to 100 block of Sherwood Heights N.W., and found evidence linking the suspect to the graffiti offences. The suspect was arrested at the same time, without incident.

Grayson Reed WHITE, 20, of Calgary, is charged with six counts of mischief under the Criminal Code in connection with these incidents.

The Joint Graffiti Investigative Team is a multi-agency group of officers from the Calgary Police Service, The City of Calgary Community Standards and Calgary Transit Public Safety & Enforcement, that focuses on investigating graffiti vandalism and graffiti offenders in Calgary.

Last year, the team laid over 45 charges against prolific graffiti offenders, and conducted an operation to stop racially-motivated graffiti that was being painted in Ranchlands. The team also provided 20 public education presentations aimed at preventing graffiti.

Graffiti is not the same as public art because it is painted on public or private property without consent of the owner. While it might seem like an insignificant crime, graffiti has been shown to make an area feel less safe and unkept. Areas with noticeable graffiti have more issues with littering, loitering and other social disorder. There is also a significant cost to property owners and The City of Calgary to remove or cover graffiti.

The Joint Graffiti Investigative Team tracks different styles and tags used in graffiti to identify prolific offenders and lay charges, in order to reduce the amount of graffiti in Calgary’s neighbourhoods.

Calgarians that see vandalism in progress should call 9-1-1 to report it. Graffiti that already exists should be reported by calling 3-1-1. If you have information on individuals causing property damage, call the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using either of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

For more information on graffiti in our city, visit www.GraffitiFreeCalgary.ca