Graffiti Vandals Arrested, Atlanta Police Say

A pair of vandals who have allegedly been using spray paint to “tag” Atlanta buildings for months have been taken into custody, police say.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Brandon “OBVS” Carrafa and James “NEATO” Strawn were arrested this month following months of investigation by the department’s graffiti abatement officer, Bradley Etterle. Carrafa was arrested following an unrelated traffic stop, and Strawn was arrested on Jan. 18 as the result of a suspicious person call.

A search warrant executed on Carrafa’s home turned up dozens of cans of spray paint, t-shirts featuring the name OBVS, a telescoping ladder and other evidence, the AJC says.

Etterle says that Strawn is responsible for some 150 tags across the city, while Carrafa was accused of carrying out around 30 tags. Both men face charges of criminal damage to property and interference with government property.