PHOENIX -- Police arrested three people on Wednesday, saying they are responsible for numerous graffiti acts across the west Valley.
Julio Chavez, 21, Angel Martinez, 19 and a 14-year-old male will be booked into jail on several felony criminal damage and graffiti charges, according to police.
The three are accused of painting buildings and signs across the Maryvale area of Phoenix, according to Phoenix Police Officer Luis Samudio. He said buildings were 'tagged' in an area between 43rd Avenue to 75th Avenue and Thomas Road to Highland Avenue.
Local business owners applauded the arrests.
"If they want to be an artist, that's fine, but they don't have to destroy property to do it," Larry Kropf said.
Some said the graffiti gets so bad, they don't make the effort to paint over it.
"It wasn't worth covering no more because the next weekend, it would be all covered up again," Arthur Gutierrez said.
Police said a 4-week investigation led investigators to the suspects. In search warrants served at the suspects' homes, several items of evidence were found that linked the suspects to the criminal damage incidents.
Investigators said the three sprayed their name monikers at a number of locations, which helped to identify them.
"A lot of it identified them, who they are or the street names they were using on these murals," Samudio said. "That also confirmed who they are and brought us to their homes and finding other items that confirmed who they are and showing that these are the individuals committing these crimes."
Police say the suspects are responsible for graffiti across town. They say it costs thousands of dollars to cover it up and say they'll be watching out for others taking their art outside the lines.
Police encourage business and home owners to take advantage of city programs to help cover up graffiti and say anyone seeing suspicious activity should call police.
