Spokane police arrest ‘prolific graffiti tagger’

Spokane police arrested a man they say is a “prolific graffiti tagger” believed to have caused property damage throughout the city and county in excess of $50,000. Just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, a witness called police saying he saw two men spray painting a building near Bernard Street and Pacific Avenue in downtown Spokane. Officers Tiffany Iverson and Alexis Kester arrived at the scene and spoke with Lance Perkins, and Justin H. Galles, both 25. Both men had cans of spray paint and paint markers in hand when officers arrived, a news release from the Spokane Police Department said. Both Perkins and Galles were booked into jail on suspicion of malicious mischief. Perkins previously was arrested in July for malicious mischief. Perkins has historically tagged property throughout the city and county with the numbers “57”, the release said. Four downtown businesses within several blocks of the location Perkins and Galles were found have been recent victims of “57” in blue and yellow spray paint. Spokane police have been trying to find the person responsible for the “57” tags for several years.