KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A third activist was arrested after reportedly turning themselves in for felony vandalism charges for painting “BLM” on a Valencia street, officials said.
On June 19, deputies responded to a report of vandalism on the 23000 block of Cinema Drive, according to Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Witnesses reported several people using spray paint in the street and called the Sheriff’s Department, according to Miller.
Upon deputies’ arrival to the location, deputies observed paint on the street and individuals with white paint residue on the palms of their hands. Deputies detained around half a dozen individuals at the scene, according to Miller.
On Wednesday, a third activist, Kori Tomondong, 18, of Canyon Country, was arrested in connection with the incident, according to their lawyer David Barlavi.
Tomondong was held at the station for about nine hours before being released, after being originally told the detention would be about two hours, according to the attorney.
“It’s my belief that they kept her in jail an extra six hours for political reasons,” Barlavi said.
Another 18-year-old, Quynn Lubs, and a minor were booked in connection with the incident, according to Miller.
This is still an active investigation by Career Offender, Burglary, Robbery and Assault (COBRA) detectives, according to Sheriff’s officials.
See Related: Black Lives Matter Activists Arrested For Felony Vandalism, Community Organizes Legal Fund
The cost to remove the lettering from the street is estimated to be just over $2,300, according to Carrie Lujan, spokesperson for the City of Santa Clarita.
“Due to the size of the vandalism, lane closures and traffic control had to be implemented for the safe clean up,” Lujan said. “In addition, a vactor truck had to be used to suck up the water which was used for cleaning to ensure none of the paint was washed into the storm drains and then into the Santa Clara River, which would have resulted in a stormwater violation.”
Local activists dispute the claim that spray paint was used, saying it was non-toxic washable paint, according to a post in the GoFundMe to support the legal fees.
“On Juneteenth, several local Santa Clarita BLM youth activists participated in an art protest,” the post reads. “Before they could finish, local L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies arrived, confiscated the washable paint and took the kids’ information.”
“Neither youth was asked to turn themselves in,” the GoFundMe post read. “Both were cuffed and arrested at their homes, with the minor while she was home alone with a friend.”
The GoFundMe is expected to go towards reimbursing the City for the removal of the paint, according to Barlavi.
The lawyer is currently working pro bono and is hoping the charges are dropped, he said.
The incident remains under active investigation as of Thursday.
Sponsored Articles
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Stop destroying property. Felony on your record. Your parents must be so proud. Get a job and stop destroying property!!!
“You can beat the rap but you can’t beat the ride”. -unofficial motto
Lets get this right, BLM is a terrorist organization and its members should be treated as such. Federal prison!
I’d like to see whether the vacuum truck, etc., was really necessary. The amount of paint is miniscule. Who knows what kind of toxic chemicals the city uses in its obsessive graffiti removal arsenal.
This is about suppressing a political message as much as zero tolerance for defacing a surface accustomed to automobile traffic.
@DaveR, you are truly the biggest moron EVER! You don’t like the fact that we remove all graffiti here in SCV?! Move the hell outta here to the city, if you crave seeing graffiti! You’ll get all you could ever want! You need a check-up-from-the neck-up, pal! Get on your meds! So in your opinion, if any graffiti is a “political message”, it should stay up?! Check yourself in for a 5150, because you are a real nut-case!
PS: hope you move somewhere else SOON! We don’t want people like you in our community! Don’t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out!! ?
Dave, did mommy ever tell you how many times you were dropped as a baby? And were they accidents?
I’m all for removing the random graffiti. The way the city makes such a big deal of the program amuses me.
Let’s see where the case goes before we start deporting our fellow Sclaritans e.g. me. I will admit hoping the First Amendment prevails. Otherwise I understand the defense has been crowdsourced (as is the prosecution, if you think about it.)
Not on any psych meds. Checkup from the neck up. Sounds kind of hip hop.
You don’t think like a normal person. Something is obviously wrong with you, and you need help! By the way, you promised you were gonna move away from here! Gonna hold you to it! We don’t need you here! Make that-we don’t WANT you here! And the jury is out! You are found guilty if being a dumbass, life in prison for you! (Anywhere but here!) Go now, and stay on those meds! It’s the only thing keeping you from being committed!
We don’t tolerate ANY graffiti here!!!!!