Winnipeg Graffiti Bust

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

This story is from December of 2008. Winnipeg police were awarded warrants for six individuals arrests. These six adults will be facing 346 separate charges of mischief following a six month investigation into vandalism and graffiti in Winnipeg. The main areas they are focusing on is in the Corydon and Osborne Village areas.

Employees at some businesses in the affected areas said they were fed-up.

“Since Canada Day we’ve been hit four times with vandalizing graffiti,” said Sarah McAllorum, who works at Papa George’s on the corner of Osborne Street and River Avenue. “If I caught someone red handed I’d stick [the paint can] up their butt and let it go wild, I really don’t care.”

The Winnipeg Police Service won’t be seeking that kind of punishment for the suspects they have arrested, but they say graffiti is a serious crime.

“They’re damaging property. It’s not art. It’s damaging property and that’s where the focus lies,” Cst. Jason Michalyshen told CTV News.

Police believe the suspects in their investigation were the cause of over $70,000 worth of property damage.

In 2007 Mayor Sam Katz and City Hall passed a bylaw banning the sale of spray paint to minors in Winnipeg. The city also spent millions of dollars on a campaign to prevent graffiti. The Councillors had hoped the law would reduce the amount of graffiti in the city; however all six of the people charged in this latest case are between the ages of 18 and 28.

Source: CTV News