16 felony graffiti suspects arraigned in King County court

A mass arraignment was held Monday at the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle for 16 people facing felony charges of graffiti vandalism. The cases come after a monthslong investigation by city and county law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol.

“We want business owners and taxpayers who have been hurt by this to know that we hear that you have been harmed and that we are taking action,” King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said at a Dec. 19 press conference.

Manion said in Seattle alone, $6 million in taxpayer dollars are spent removing graffiti each year. The annual cost to private businesses is believed to be millions more, though officials offered no firm estimate.

Manion was quick to distinguish graffiti from urban art. "Dangling above freeway lanes to tag a traffic sign is not art. It puts drivers at risk and causes significant damage to public property," she said.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2024/12/30/graffiti-felony-charges-king-county.html