A man allegedly used a chainsaw to cut down numerous trees and cause $347,000 in damage in an inexplicable killing spree culminating on Earth Day.
Samuel Patrick Groft, 45, ‘used a chain saw to cut down numerous city trees’ in Downtown Los Angeles, the Glassell Park and the Westlake District, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Groft is accused of chopping trees around 12am on Thursday on North Broadway Avenue, around 3.40pm on Friday on West 8th Street, around 1.20am on Saturday on South Grand Avenue and around 2pm on Tuesday on Treadwell Street in Southern California.
Photos shared by the police department showed a tree on a sidewalk cut down and fallen on an urban street, and chopped stump with its branches and leaves on the ground.
A total of 11 trees were killed. A police estimate of $347,000 to replace the trees did not include three more that were found destroyed, KABC reported.
Cops found and arrested Groft around 4.30pm on Tuesday near Custer Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard.
‘I have never seen anyone go and attack trees, especially around the time of Earth Day,’ stated police Commander Lilian Carranza on Wednesday.
‘Everybody wanted to know who did it and why. We know the who. The why will be part of the investigation.’
Groft, of Los Angeles, has been charged with felony vandalism and his bond has been set at $150,000.
He had a tattoo on the left side of his neck and gave a blank expression in his mugshot released by detectives who believe he ‘may be responsible for additional unreported crimes’.
‘That someone would do this is truly beyond comprehension,’ stated Mayor Karen Bass
‘City public works crews are assessing the damage and we will be making plans to quickly replace these damaged trees.’
Earlier, police had released two images of the suspect wearing dark clothing and carrying a backpack and duffel bag while riding a bicycle. He was described as 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds.
‘Use caution and do not approach,’ stated a police department community alert.
Anyone with information on the crime is urged to contact the police department.
