Vandal Alters Hollywood Sign to Read Hollyweed, Again

HOLLYWOOD HILLS, CA -- Misdemeanor trespassing charges -- in essence, a traffic ticket -- await the man dressed in black who scaled the landmark "Hollywood" sign Sunday to again convert it to read "Hollyweed."

City of Los Angeles surveillance cameras that are locked on the iconic sign in captured a man dressed in black as he scaled down the sign, and carefully placed tarps on the structure to make it read "Hollyweed."

The dirty deed was perpetrated at about 3 a.m., according to Sgt. Guy Juneau of the LAPD's Security Services Division.

The tarp was completely taken down about 11:15 a.m. and the signage restored back to``Hollywood," according to a watch sergeant at the LAPD's Security Services Division.

``It (the suspect) was just one person. He was dressed in black. He was tactical,' Juneau said. ``The terrain is very rough, so you have safety to be considered. The incident is being investigated as misdemeanor.'

Citizens called in to report the alteration about 5 a.m., he said.

The crook won't get any points for originality, however. Similar editing to the sign has occurred at least twice, once in 1976 to celebrate a change in state law, and again a decade later as publicity for a now-forgotten movie.

Sunday's stunt was the latest play-on-mountainside-words to beset the iconic sign. Suspicion centered on interests celebrating the legalization of marijuana in California, approved by voters last year and scheduled to take full effect in 12 months.

City News Service; Photo: Youtube Screengrab