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SRJC student arrested as prolific tagger

Police say 18-year-old did $100,000 in property damage, signing graffiti as 'El Barto'
By BOB NORBERG
AND JEREMY HAY
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A Santa Rosa man suspected of being the prolific tagger "El Barto," whose widespread graffiti has caused about $100,000 in damage, was arrested Friday, police said. See story below ADVERTISEMENT OAS_AD('Middle');
Saif S. Azzuz, an 18-year-old Santa Rosa Junior College student, is suspected of several hundred graffiti incidents throughout Sonoma County and in other parts of the Bay Area during the past year, making him one of the region's most active vandals, Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Lisa Banayat said.

His tag has been prominent on freeway railings and overpasses, homes, commercial buildings, fences and signs.

"I even saw him once on Lombard in San Francisco," Banayat said.

After a monthlong investigation, Azzuz was arrested at a first-floor, one-bedroom Ridgway Avenue apartment where he lived with his father, Ehsan Azzuz, across the street from the Santa Rosa City Schools District administrative offices.

Youth soccer trophies filled half of Azzuz's closet shelf.

"Unfortunately, he was a class-one player," said an undercover detective who was cataloging evidence. "Probably had a lot of talent."

Contacted by phone, Azzuz's father declined to comment.

Police took away 10 brown paper grocery bags of evidence. There were bags full of spray paint cans, spray can accessories, including an array of different nozzle tips, and pencil sketches of tags that had been sprayed around Santa Rosa.

Art textbooks were on the floor of the bedroom and the living room.

On the floor was a pair of black Converse low-tops, and on the heel of one shoe was drawn a cartoonlike face that, said Georgia Pedgrift, coordinator of the Police Department's graffiti abatement program, was a hallmark of Azzuz's tags.

A similar face was drawn in black marker on the bumper of Azzuz's gold Mitsubishi Montero, which was parked outside.

Azzuz's tagging signatures were "El Barto" and "Bart," police said. Pedgrift said it was apparently inspired by the alias that the TV cartoon character Bart Simpson uses when he vandalizes property.

"He's incredibly bold, incredibly bold, which is the game," Pedgrift said. "That's the whole point of tagging, to pick highly visible spots where there's a high risk of getting caught."

By those standards, she said, "he was the leader of the pack in Santa Rosa."

Banayat said graffiti is a huge problem in Santa Rosa, and very little of it is gang-related.

"It is on every corner in the city. A lot of the tagging is related to tagging crews who do this as a matter of entertainment, getting notoriety, getting their names up. The more they get up and the more prominent the place, the more famous they become, while destroying other people's property," she said.

He is being held on multiple counts of suspicion of vandalism. Bail was set at $100,000, Banayat said. function textCounter( field, maxlimit ) { if ( field.value.length > maxlimit ) { field.value = field.value.substring( 0, maxlimit ); field.blur(); field.focus(); return false; } } Comment on this article Comments can take a few minutes to display. Comment Guidelines
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Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 01:07P
Maybe he can help out with the painting of our city and county parking lots; roadways; and traffic signs such as (pedestrian crossing; use right lane; wrong way; stop ahead; no graffiti; etc.) His new efforts could save money for local government.
Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 08:13A
that's what I'm sayin there is still el barto goin up all across the city and if they caught the right one then whats the new tags all about....FREE SAIF...love ya cutey!
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2006 08:51A
oct 7 12:48.... he did it... so many people knew that was his tag name... although some may not be his, most of it was... hes screwed and deserves to clean up at least everything he did
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 08:19P
Hey, this is civilization. People don't get to do whatever they want just because they want to. Grow up and get over yourselves.
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 08:59A
Tagging is ugly and lowers property value. It is a pain to clean up as well. I take pride in my accomplishments as a home builder and don't deserve to have my work vandalized. I guess I am an artist too, but I won't paint on someone else's canvas.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 10:36P
He wasnt the first and he sure wont be the last, that boy got some guts. I liked his tags it was a while since we had a Real tagger in S.R. Get your name up, its what its all about. See, he won. FREE BARTO!!
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 10:35P
whats funny about this is that yea, maybe he did do some tagging, BUT...theres been others who are tagging "el barto" and trying to make it their own. I LOVE SAIF!!!!!!!
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 10:32P
Free El Barto By: 1 other artist U SEE ON THE STREET K1 - It Just art:-forget the vandal squad under cover cops suck- THIS IS 4 ALL THE ARTIST OUT THEIR/ go out bombing 4 the fame/k1/top 2bottom/These Pigs can't stop us/4 life stay up bartoOOOOOOOOO
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 09:27P
A true TOY got some fame huh? well for his nozzel neck wannabe friends, he maybe jail isn't the worst for him....he can work on some much needed skill. MAD PROPS to the real artists.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 08:51P
he's a celebrity... made the community laugh.. FREE EL BARTO!
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 08:51P
aw saif!
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 08:16P
is your photographer blind?
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 08:14P
For those blaming the parents, sit down and think to yourself, "where is my child? and could they possibly be lying about where they are?" or is it that your kids don't lie...that's right, they're perfect.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 07:25P
For all of those who say this is ART, where do you live, ill do a mural on your car for free. Lock em up or break their hands. No mercy for those who mess with others property.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 05:40P
everyone who thinks it is alright to put a person in JAIL for art needs to get a life and look around you...your government kills people and you look away...a child embraces art and is punished...hm
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 05:17P
Everyone (you, me, and everyone else) has the freedom to do what they will in this world. And that's just how it's going to be. You can love it, hate it, or just not care. But you can't control anyone unless they allow you to. So live with it.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 05:14P
Art cannot be defined. As much as any of us argue about what it is and what it isn't, none will ever be wrong and none will ever be right.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 05:12P
FREE EL BARTO! -kush
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 04:02P
Everyone keeps on blaming the father. But maybe he had no idea what his son was up to. I bet more than half of you don't even know what your kids are doing right know.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 04:00P
EAT MY SHORTS! THIS IS AN ART FORM... Criminologist.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 03:17P
Jail him and make him drop the soap.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 03:03P
11:06 - .... and this is how we the people express ourselves.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 02:46P
free barto!! i miss you saif!
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 02:08P
you keep seeing el barto up because they caught the wrong person. watch the streets, i hear el barto is still painting and is still free. and i heard hes running for mayor. i'd vote for him.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 01:42P
i still keep seeing new el barto tags all over santa rosa
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 01:18P
He should have to do 100,000 worth of community service, not be in jail where rapists, criminals and murderers are. Jeez, the law enforcement around here needs to pull there thumbs out of there ass's and take care of real issues.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 01:12P
He should be punished for his actions. But what I want to know is, where is the parenting. Even though I agree in punishment in the highest degree, I do think that this behavior at eighteen shows lack of parenting and involvement by parents!
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 01:11P
I'm glad the fine police force of the Bay Area stopped such a prolific vandal. I hope they put all their men on that assignment, because I can't think of one better thing to do than ruin an young person's (who isn't hurting anyone)life.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 01:07P
Instead of spending money on "undercover detectives" to bust 18 year olds with spraypaint, shouldn't we be spending it on stopping, I don't know, rapists, murderers, people that actually commit crime.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 01:05P
Are you people serious??? Who still thinks graffiti is a crime? Tagging is a victimless crime, no one gets hurt. It's not even gang related. You do realize that this poor kid is having his life ruined for spray painting on Freeway Rails right?
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 01:01P
hey guys let's take on all of those non-gang related victimless property crimes now that all those victimful human life crimes are all settled down, okay?! oh wait. how does ten years in jail fit the crime of painting on property?
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 11:57A
its about time.. Cuz this BARt guy was damaging Sonoma County with his singature.. THis is not EAst LA..
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 11:39A
your just jealous of barto
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 10:37A
Anyone who has done over $100,000 for putting El Puto, I mean El Barto in block letters IS a criminal and needs to be punished. And there is zero talent to what he's done. I've seen lots of tagging and what he's done looks like kid work, no skill
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 10:17A
Alright they caught a"TAGER" I hope they don't lose or misplace the evidence. It realy will let me sleep better tonight knowing he's off the street's. These high profile TAGERS are a big theat unlike gang members. WILL HE HAVE TO REGISTER AS A TAGGER
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 09:44A
I hate graffiti done by the taggers.Good riddance!Why can't they paint murals to help beautify the cities?Wouldn't you get more recognition in that respect?
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 08:55A
I just wish he would have incorporated more style in his tags. so to the fellow writers who sprayed with him....the beefs squashed....you know who this is
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 07:01A
Why don't these young adults under 21 have to show there ID to purchase rattle cans of paint? I have to show ID to purchase Sudafed and Bullets. Why?? not for rattle cans?? Feel sorry for the victims.
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 05:43A
how we punish graffiti taggers sends a message to those who want to make our county look like the ghetto. Taggers should be jailed for as long as it takes for them to repaint or repay the damage they created
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 11:25P
i love you eva!
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 11:14P
They nabbed the wrong guy.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 11:11P
Despite the harsh words of the author in this article, el barto's graffiti will spread through the world and impact the visual eyes of everyone that believes in the arts...
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 11:11P
Despite the harsh words of the author in this article, el barto's graffiti will spread through the world and impact the visual eyes of everyone that believes in the arts...
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 10:02P
With the exception of gangs and hate groups, graffiti isn't about hating the community. It's more of a personal struggle. You'd understand if you lived in the game.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 09:58P
HE ISN'T GUILTY, HE HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANYTHING.Would you say the same if a 13 year-old girl was arrested on the same charge? Graffiti is a lot less worse than half the crimes you other people have done in your lives.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 09:21P
everyone who wrote lame comments about cutting his hands off should be the ones that should be in jail!!!FREE EL BARTO
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 08:55P
6:46pm - That's the way it was in my day. Either serve two years in the CA State Penitentiary or four years in the military. His choice, he's an adult now. As for his dad, what a waste. He should be made to speak at Planned Parenthood meetings.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 08:28P
1st: get your information correct. The photo says "mars" not el barto or bart or anything with a "B" in it. Hmmm fire the photographer and the jouranist. Second if you have to clean it up it means you still have your job; you should thank the kid.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 07:10P
I'm El Barto, you got the wrong man! I'm going to paint the town red just for him!
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 06:51P
He is hardly "the leader of the pack" because such things are irrelevant. and that photo isn't even one of El barto's. Can the photo editor read?
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 04:43P
Crime of the Century.......good work at nabbing the big fish copers
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 04:29P
Good to see the Sonoma County authorities can solve the really big crimes. At least there arenýt unsolved murders of teenage campers in Jenner nor John Mark Karr types running around the county.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 02:15P
Free El Barto, graffiti gives the community more character. maybe if u gave these artists some legal walls to paint on they wouldnt paint on ur property.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 01:02P
Isn't the framing hammer, the one with the waffle design on it? I liked that suggestion too, or the one about cutting both hands off was good, also.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 01:00P
Sat. @ 10:46P - sounds a little like gang activity to me. Same terminology.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 12:49P
free bart
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 12:29P
11:58 I like your thoughts and style... he really should pay...
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 12:26P
I have been one who has had to clean up this type of thing... MAKE HIM PAY.. and HE HAS NO TALENT!!!! NO FREE BART...
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 12:12P
i would be very happy to wake up in the morning and see el barto on the side of my business. FREE BART
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 11:45A
Vandals dis the entire community. They are criminals. El Barto is El Retardo.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 11:13A
First off, his work is really not that good from what I have seen. Second, this vandal has stolen thousands of dollars from the citizens of Santa Rosa. He should be made an example of.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 11:07A
10:05 would a 6/9 cell be enough space do you think?
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 10:22A
i write graffiti yess indeedy free bart
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 07:01A
It seems like no one has seen what he's painted. I have. He hit 4 buildings by my house. All he paints is the name El Barto in block letters, that's it. I thought Junior High kids did it it was so talentless. He has no art skill at all.
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 12:01A
FREE SAIF!!!
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006 12:00A
How can anyone compare tagging with art. Vandalism isn't art. Anyone who says free Barto obviously hasn't had their property vandalized. It would be nice if all those who vandalized my business would pay to clean it up. Charge him every last dime!!!!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 11:08P
Thats not art. Its bad sign writing on other peoples property, commonly known as vandalism. I say make him clean up his mess and fine him large then give him prison time. Down with EL FARTO!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 11:06P
barto is not a criminal!That is the way he expresses himself.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 11:06P
I like using the framing hammer suggestion best.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:53P
Don't Fascist Governments Persecute Artists? If they city constructed places for people to practice their passions then there wouldn't be as many "problems" with street art. Give US some abandon lot with undesireable buildings and let US "paint" 'em.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:46P
its your art and the thrill of showing youve got the guts to hold up a can and lay it all on the line to make yourself proud, graffiti is much more than what the common folk see it as, theres alot of meaning to it, dont dis the brave and proud
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:32P
i loved barto
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:23P
If he's an artist tell him to paint on a canvas....This area is so much about beauty....painting this "art" on our buildings and highways does nothing but tarnish the areas image and beauty...Frankly its an embarassment...Glad he's been caught
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:21P
He knew it was vandalism. Let him pay for his crimes. Make him clean his mess up AND other graffiti too.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:05P
He is an Artist. Get Over It. Give the man space. Eventually, He Will make Soco Proud. You Have to give the artist Space. Gotta give the the artist a Full Canvas.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:15P
I agree with 3:22 because this will let artist express themselves. The city should close down at least one skate park every 2 weeks and allow All artist paint appropriate pictures. This will hopefully stop all tagging and decorate the concrete.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:53P
I've seen SO many public places that have his tag. Waste of taxpayers money to remove his "art" I'm glad he got caught & he really needs to pay.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:44P
This guy is little more than an animal marking his turf. He doesn't belong in a society of people. Send the vandal to state prison, and garnish his father's future earnings to repay at least some of the damage his son caused.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:36P
lets set some things straight:MARS is a completely different artist, the house in the picture is abandoned and no one should relate Saif to a terrorist that needs to be deported, he is art.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:34P
8:17P A artist of what? Breaking the law is not a crime? He disgraces our beauty of our town. Hope they hang him.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:17P
free el barto he is an artist not a criminal.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:59P
there goes my job security.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:46P
kick him out of school and make him join the army, then send him Iraq. Then maybe he gain some respect for the way things are done.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:44P
MARS = criminal
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:40P
why does one assume Saif Azzuz is either a Muslim or should be deported? Based on his name. Where in this article is any of that specific information given? this is the sort of bias and prejudice that ruins mankind.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:37P
I heard he had been on the short list of suspects about a month ago. Too bad he got caught. I was getting 65.00 an hour to clean up after him.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:26P
its says mars.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:10P
Draw that little cartoon face that's on the bottom of his shoe and his bumper, on his forehead and make him wear it around for a year.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:08P
I don't think that photo of graffiti says "Mars"; I think it says MAB5. Anyone with me on that?
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:07P
He will get a bleedng heart judge, who will give him slap on the wrist and just give 30 hrs. community service!!!!!!!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 06:06P
There should be no tolerance for this activity! This is defacing other people's property and that is VANDALISM. How could this young man's father not know what he was doing when he was out with all that equipment. He's guilty, too.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 05:59P
To 9:44 I have seen posts like yours saying this is why you left Sonoma Co. YOU'RE GONE, THOSE OF US STILL HERE WILL DEAL WITH OUR PROBLEMS. WRITE YOU NEW PAPER! Positive side is you are not a suspect in this crime. You live too far away.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 05:26P
back east, large cities such as chicago have created public spaces for taggers. true it doesn't curb tagging entirely - what will? - but it dramatically reduces the amount of tagging city-wide by providing a space where kids can go and not be hassled
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 05:17P
Make the punnishment fit the crime! $100K damage, plus legal fees and investigation cost. Since he has been doing this for quite some time while living under his father's roof, they should both pay.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 05:03P
The Agony and the Ecstasy. An artist has to do what the artist has to do. Some just have to paint. The graffiti is maybe just a start. We need artists like that.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 04:58P
I'm really happy to see this arrest. The tagging in Santa Rosa is out of hand. It makes the entire city look trashy. I don't have a problem with self-expression, but not on other people's property.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 04:51P
"Artists" like this give the arts a bad name.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 04:46P
3:06pm...ok, using your logic, why didn't he ask for permission to paint and offer to pay? Seems fair to me.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 03:51P
Thank god we got him and there wont be any more taggings ever.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 03:36P
Just an outrageous artist. Give him a wall, or a ceiling. Give him space to do stuff without threat. And yeah, make him hoe some rows for probation. Gotta atone. But Murals are cool. Maybe he can do Fresco.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 03:22P
Let him pay the price for breaking the law... Then let's put up a "spray-paint, tagging, grafic-arts park"; with competitions. Remember when skateboarding damaged property and caused much "angst"? Provide a place for them to do this. Focus the "art".
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 03:18P
03:06p Too bad he didnt come in the middle of the night and spray paint his "TAG" on your house. But then you probably dont own a house...
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 03:06P
How did he "destroy" property? What's the big deal? Property owners pay advertizers and muralists to paint their walls; so they just don't appreciate entrepeneurial, self expressive art, right?
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 02:42P
Right on 8:52!!! Maybe if his parents brought him to be a "fun-guy" like a wine and cheese taster, or to think the country club is what its all about, this might not have happened.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 02:42P
Taggers should be punished and fined. Not everyone appreciates their conception of "Art", especially when it is applied to other peoples property. This kid needs to pay financial restitution and time.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 02:42P
$100K of this guy's property should be vandalized- then call it even!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 01:58P
$100,000 divided by minimum wage (what is it..$8.00/hr)= 12,500 hours of community service, but heck, he's an artist lets pay him $10.00/hr now he only has to do 10,000 hours. Or pay whole enchilada.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 01:42P
Make him spend 2000 hours cleaning graffiti all over snownoma county.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 01:31P
hey 1:29P if this was your kid how would you feel if i said that about your child?
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 01:29P
He should have both hands smashed with a framing hammer. Then he would have a lifetime reminder of what he did to other people.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 01:20P
The only references to vandal or vandalism were police quotes. Why doesn't the Press Dem. use the word VANDAL instead of PC 'tagger' to describe these vermin? Or would that (the truth) be offensive to certain groups?
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 12:55P
FREE SAIF!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 12:48P
I HOPE ONCE HE IS PROVEN INNOCENT THAT KFTY AND PRESS DEMOCRAT WILL PUT ANOTHER FRONT PAGE ARTICLE EXPLAINING THAT HE WAS INNOCENT, AND A PUBLIC APPOLOGE WOULD BE IN ORDER.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 12:46P
GOT TO LOVE THE COUNTINOUITY OF THIS ARTICLE. THEY SAY "EL BARTO" GOT CAUGHT, THEN THEY SHOW SOME VANDALISM, THAT DOSEN'T EVEN SAY EL BARTO. IT SAYS MARS.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 12:14P
the kat had no talent he should be punished for that and nothing else stay up anonomus graffit artist
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 12:00P
This kid should be required to attend college art classes for his punishment- that ought to grind any last bit of originality out of him. P.S. I know of several kids who tag "El Barto," how are they going to pin it all on this one?
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 11:58A
Make him pay full restitution for what he did, make him clean up all the graffiti he painted AND make him give up the names/tags of those who also vandalize public/private property.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 11:47A
when was azzuz arrested?
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 11:37A
i hope someone takes over his tag and continues the beautiful artwork we've seen all over this county. I think seeing all the signs around for city counsil candidates is way worse than El Barto's portraits. In fact i'd vote for El Barto.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 11:15A
Jail, Fine and make him do 200 hours of graffiti clean up. They destroy other peoples property; I wonder how they would feel if their own property was tagged by someone else. The punishments need to be stiffer here in Sonoma County!!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 11:10A
BARTO NO MORO HURRAY!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:56A
In China, no doubt, he'd be executed without a trial.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:30A
that kid had talent
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:27A
Let the punishment fit the crime. $100,000 damage means at least ten years in prison. If father not a citizen, he should be deported as he had to know what his kid was doing. If citizen he should be forced to pay the $100,000 that his kid did.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:22A
Maybe they could spray paint Assus a different color each day and make him attend school with only has paint job as his cover, for say the the next year.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:11A
10:02 If they dont put the boy on probation they will most likely have him do 20hrs at salvation army with a few aa meetings! 9:57 sounds good to me! and 9:19 is also a great idea!!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:10A
Don't be nice to him in jail! His father had to know about him. Are they working,or are we supporting them? Long jail sentence I hope.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:08A
FREE BARTO!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 10:02A
I think most of the commentators below are missing the point. This kid has caused $100,000 damage. Now, his being an Arab is irrelevent. If he was caught in his country, he would have been executed. Here, he will get a slap on the wrist.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:57A
Let's make him AND his parents clean up ALL the grafitti in the greater Santa Rosa area. And give them a deadline. Or Jail.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:50A
9:19 is right. This guy should do community service. Maybe teaching art o underpriveleged kids, showing how they can express themselves without vandalyzing. Vandalism is a crime, but its not murder.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:49A
I don't exactly see the "art" in spray painting your name on things...and where was the father in all of this with 10 grocery bags of evidence in a one room apartment?
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:44A
He's part of the reason I left Sonoma County. Make him clean up ALL the graffiti not just his! What a loser.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:41A
Can't ask, can't report law! I'm surprised he not out & loose again.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:35A
Looks like all this money being spent on more and more soccer fields (A Place to Play) at the expense of other programs certainly did not direct this boy down a higher path. Eh, Martini?
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:26A
Sorry folks, this is not about artistic expression. It is about violating other people's property. Too bad his father did not teach him to respect other people's stuff. Restitution is definitely in order...in addition to community service & jail time
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:25A
News update...the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce is in negotiations to hire Saif to do all of the media placements for the city's new tourism tagline. Synergies man.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:19A
I really would like to see some required community service in the form of cleaning up graffiti for this person.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 09:19A
hmmmm... cuts in school funding to arts, a culture that lionizes "exceptionalism" and "entrepenurial spirit" and "individual freedom" ads bigger than houses owned by millionaires and this kid is hung up for bigots to blame.
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:52A
At least this tagger isn't out driving his big gas guzzeling suv,watching tv getting fat,hidding inside his house,starring at computer,or etc, he's becoming a great artist, santa rosa needs culture and he provided it, bravo
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:41A
Maybe if our teachers wouldn't have such self inflicked ego's and let the kids self express themselves,without being tied down to the teachers ideas they wouldn't act out.Set our kids free to be creative in the class room
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:39A
Why not make him clean up all the tagging for the next thirty days with no pay, make him liable for the costs of all the tagging clean up over a six month period in the City of Santa Rosa and then tell his father it is time to put Saif out on his own
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:37A
Let the art work flow, it gives something to look at,rather than stark looking bad archetecture
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 08:28A
It is to bad these taggers damage property, when they could be making money with their artwork!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 07:59A
In Singapore he would get a good caning
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 07:36A
They live in a one bedroom apartment, but can apparently afford tons of expensive paint!
Saturday, Oct 07, 2006 07:32A
I see all the feel-good handwringers are still in bed sleeping off their Prozac hangovers. I like the message boards this time of the day!