Police arrest teen in Medford graffiti spree - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2015-07-27

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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   Our View: Volunteer security? Thanks, but no thanks       ...       From the Council: Public should get involved in local marijuana decisions       ...       Save a life: How to help someone who's contemplating suicide       ...       Our View: Volunteer security? Thanks, but no thanks       ...       From the Council: Public should get involved in local marijuana decisions       ...       Save a life: How to help someone who's contemplating suicide       ...           VANDALISM Police arrest teen in Medford graffiti spree Comment By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 26, 2015 at 2:12 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 26, 2015 at 2:12 PM »  Social News Medford police Wednesday evening arrested a teenager they say is one of multiple paint-can wielding vandals responsible for a wave of gang-related graffiti that's swept the city in recent months. Police arrested Pedro Sanchez-Camacho, 18, on four counts of second-degree criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor. Medford police have taken more than 110 reports of graffiti already this year. Much of  the graffiti, often bearing the numerals X13 or X14, is related to the Norteños and Sureños groups that dominate the area's gang culture.  Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said Sanchez-Camacho isn't the only person of interest to investigators. "We believe there are several suspects," Budreau said. "A lot of the taggings are different — sometimes they provide their names or monikers, sometimes they don't." Budreau said it's not uncommon to arrest young adults or juveniles in graffiti cases, explaining that most taggers grow out of the practice as they get older, even if they continue with the gang.  Medford's gangs aren't particularly organized, Budreau said, and don't really have their own recognized territory in the city. "Basically, they just pick the gang name that they want and just start spray-painting it everywhere to see what happens," he said. If another gang sees the tag in what they perceive as "their" territory, Budreau said, they sometimes will tag over it, starting a feud that will sometimes escalate to violence. "It's really all over nothing," he said. Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471 or by email at [email protected]. Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty. By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 26, 2015 at 2:12 PM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501