Latest news with #SamuelGroft
CBS News
16-05-2025
- CBS News
A vandal went after downtown Los Angeles trees with a chainsaw, shocking the city. Now they're being replanted
City leaders and community partners gathered downtown Los Angeles Friday to celebrate tree plantings to replace those that were chopped down by an alleged vandal last month. Fourteen trees were mysteriously hacked with a chainsaw over several days in April, causing shock and outrage in the DTLA community, and beyond. On Friday, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado led the replanting ceremony where golden shovels piled dirt on the first of 14 replacement trees. She said thanks to the generosity of the downtown community, the trees will be replaced two to one. "Anytime DTLA has had a downturn, it comes back stronger," she said. Over the weekend of April 18 and 19, police responded to calls of felled trees lying on the road in several downtown locations. This led to others reporting similar bizarre tree hackings in and near the downtown area, with evidence allegedly pointing to the same suspect. The man suspected of hacking down multiple trees across downtown Los Angeles with a chainsaw. Los Angeles Police Department Police gathered surveillance footage of a suspect, armed with a chainsaw, dressed in black and riding around on a BMX-style bike. Samuel Patrick Groft, 44, was arrested a short time later and faces 9 felony counts involving 13 trees that were cut between April 13 and April 19, including one that had a limb chopped off in broad daylight. Investigators said they had prior contacts with Groft, who has a criminal record and is homeless. "We went to one of the locations over at Custer and Sunset. Once we got there, we found him there with the evidence, the same clothing, bicycle, and the chainsaw," Detective Michael Pineda said earlier. Authorities estimated last month that there was nearly $350,000 in damages. Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services General Manager Ana Tabuena-Ruddy called it an instance of eco-terrorism. Private sector partners are paying for the cost of the replacement trees, and most are California natives. "We are planting Oak trees, Desert Willows, Catalina Cherry, and in locations we couldn't plant natives, we are identifying drought-tolerant trees to plant," Tabuena-Ruddy said. She also noted that the root systems are sidewalk-friendly. "Everything we are planting is not going to lift up the sidewalks, but will provide green infrastructure and still maintain the integrity of our infrastructure." At Groft's first Los Angeles court appearance last month, he was denied release on his own recognizance. The judge noted that he has an "extensive criminal record" and remains jailed on $350,000 bail. Groft faces up to six-and-a-half years in state prison if convicted.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- CBS News
Man who allegedly hacked downtown LA trees with a chainsaw ordered to stand trial
The man who allegedly used a chainsaw to cut down 13 trees in downtown Los Angeles and nearby areas has been ordered to stand trial on vandalism charges. Over the weekend of April 18 and 19, police responded to calls of felled trees, lying on the road in several downtown locations. Surveillance footage captured a suspect, armed with a chainsaw, dressed in black and riding around on a BMX-style bike. Samuel Patrick Groft, 44, was arrested a short time later. Police said they had prior contacts with Groft, who has a criminal record and is homeless. "We went to one of the locations over at Custer and Sunset. Once we got there, we found him there with the evidence, the same clothing, bicycle, and the chainsaw," Detective Michael Pineda said earlier. After the value of each hacked tree was assessed, Groft was charged with 9 felony counts. The threshold for felony vandalism in California is $400 of destruction, anything below that is a misdemeanor. Two of the 11 felony counts were dropped to misdemeanor charges as the $400 in damages weren't proven by prosecutors in those two counts, which involved four trees added to the case on Wednesday. Authorities estimated last month that there was nearly $350,000 in damages. The street tree superintendent for the city of Los Angeles testified that he estimated damage at just under $175,000 for trees on city-owned property. He said he did not assess the replacement costs of all of the trees, as some were on private property. LAPD Detective Roberto Gutierrez testified Wednesday that he was told by a woman that three juniper trees reported to cost about $10,000 each were cut down on April 14 in front of her business in the 700 block of West Temple Street. He said the woman provided surveillance video footage showing the suspect holding a chainsaw and cutting down trees while wearing black gloves. Groft faces charges involving 13 trees that were cut between April 13 and April 19, including one that had a limb chopped off in broad daylight. At his first Los Angeles court appearance last month, he was denied release on his own recognizance. The judge noted that he has an "extensive criminal record." He remains jailed on $350,000 bail. Groft faces up to six-and-a-half years in state prison if convicted.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
L.A. taxpayers on hook for $347K after man takes chainsaw to trees downtown
In announcing charges filed against the 44-year-old homeless man accused of cutting down trees in downtown Los Angeles, officials said the damages will cost city hundreds of thousands of dollars. In a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, prosecutors say that in a five-day span, from April 14-19, Samuel Groft cut down at least trees costing taxpayers approximately $347,000 in damages, repairs and replacements. By April 20, much of the damage was making its way onto social media as some Angelenos posted photos to Reddit and Instagram of all the felled trees downtown. Trees cut down with a chainsaw were seen in pieces at locations including 1st Street and Wilshire Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard and Hope Street, Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street, Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue, Grand Avenue in front of the Wells Fargo Center and Grand Avenue and 5th Street. 'That someone would do this is truly beyond comprehension,' L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement released late afternoon on Easter Sunday. Two days later, Groft was taken into custody by L.A. police, who said the chainsaw, along with other evidence of the vandalism, was in his possession at the time of his arrest. According to the DA's office, the 44-year-old, who has previous convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and vandalism, has been charged with eight counts of felony vandalism in connection with this latest incident. 'What took years to grow only took minutes to destroy,' District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. 'Trees not only provide shade and comfort but nourish those who live and work in our communities. Selfish and senseless acts that strip away a vital piece of our ecosystem are profoundly disturbing and my office will prosecute anyone who engages in such criminal conduct to the fullest extent of the law.' If convicted as charged, Groft could see a maximum sentence of six years and six months in state prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Homeless man arrested in downtown L.A. chainsaw tree mystery
A man has been arrested in connection with dozens of city-owned trees in Los Angeles that were cut down with a chainsaw over the Easter Holiday weekend. The suspect, Samuel Groft, 45, was arrested for felony vandalism. KTLA's Mary Beth McDade reports on April 23, 2025. Details:
