Police have arrested a man accused of using a chainsaw to cut down more than 10 trees in downtown Los Angeles and nearby areas over the weekend.
LAPD announced an arrest Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday, 44-year-old Samuel Patrick Groft was identified as the suspect in a felony vandalism case.
The hunt for the suspect began after residents woke to find trees across downtown Los Angeles chopped down overnight. Witnesses believe the incident took place between Friday evening and Saturday morning.
The alleged suspect, seen in surveillance footage, was wearing all black and riding a BMX-type bike.
During a Wednesday news conference, detectives reported identifying 11 trees that had been cut down. They said Samuel Groft allegedly used a chainsaw to fell trees in downtown Los Angeles, the Westlake District, and Glassell Park.
Detective Robert Gutierrez stated that the estimated damage currently stands at $347,000, which includes the value of eight of the vandalized trees. The value of the remaining three is still being assessed.
Police said they had prior contacts with Groft, who has a criminal record and is homeless. “We went to one of the locations over at Custer and Sunset. Once we got there, we found him there with the evidence, the same clothing, bicycle and the chainsaw,” Det. Michael Pineda said.
The incident prompted strong reactions from several city officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, who called the act “truly beyond comprehension.”
