Los Angeles police arrested two individuals on Wednesday morning outside an unfinished downtown skyscraper that has been plagued by graffiti, with more than 25 floors covered in tags, authorities reported. The two suspects, both males aged 20 and 24, were apprehended after a group of approximately five individuals were observed running towards the Oceanwide Plaza location on Figueroa Street at around 2 a.m. The group trespassed onto the property by jumping over the fence and entering the incomplete building, according to Officer Rosario Cervantes of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The arrested men, whose identities were not immediately disclosed, were booked on charges of trespassing, stated Rosario. In response, officers arrived at the scene and established a perimeter, using a loudspeaker to call for the individuals inside the structure to surrender. Video footage captured by OnScene depicted law enforcement officers encircling Oceanwide Plaza, a billion-dollar mixed-use development that has been on hold since 2019. The building’s facade has been predominantly adorned with large, colorful graffiti letters by taggers who managed to infiltrate the vacant structure to leave their mark.

The prompt and coordinated police action represents a notable departure from the circumstances just a few weeks earlier, when the building underwent its graffiti transformation. Taggers interviewed by The Los Angeles Times in early February divulged that they encountered no security measures as they snuck into the property, situated across from the Crypto.com Arena at L.A. Live. Subsequently, LAPD officials have engaged with the property’s management firm to address ways to enhance the site’s security and deter unauthorized entry.

As part of this effort, city officials commenced the installation of additional fencing around the premises last week to dissuade trespassers, as reported by City News Service. Moreover, a number of individuals have been cited or apprehended this month in connection with the ongoing graffiti issue. On February 6th, LAPD announced the arrests of four individuals following a search of the development. In the preceding week, two Los Angeles residents were arrested for trespassing after a report of vandalism at the location, with a third individual, believed to be the driver involved, also receiving a citation.

This continual cycle of unauthorized individuals breaching the premises and defacing the skyscraper underscores the ongoing struggle to thwart graffiti in prominent urban developments. With the concerted efforts of law enforcement and property management, the hope is to establish a more robust and effective security protocol to prevent further incidents of trespassing and vandalism.