A homeless man claiming to be an “arborist” faces 6.5 years in prison after going on a $350,000 tree-cutting rampage in downtown Los Angeles, destroying decades of urban forest in just minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Samuel Patrick Groft, 44, faces nine felony vandalism charges for cutting down 13 trees across downtown LA over seven days using a spray-painted chainsaw.
- Damage estimates have reached nearly $350,000, with public trees alone valued at $175,000; Groft remains in jail with bail set at the same amount.
- The homeless suspect bizarrely claimed, “I love trees. I love bark. I’m an arborist” when arrested at a homeless encampment on April 22, ironically on Earth Day.
- Due to the severity of the charges and his extensive criminal record, Groft faces up to six and a half years in state prison if convicted.
- City officials have promised to plant two trees for every one destroyed, and LA Conservation Corps and Northeast Trees are donating new trees.
Week-Long Tree Destruction Spree Devastates Downtown LA
A chainsaw-wielding vandal cut a path of destruction through downtown Los Angeles in April, felling 13 mature trees, including Chinese elms, ficus, dragon trees, and junipers. The bizarre crime spree began on April 13 and continued for a week, with the vandalism going largely unnoticed until April 19, when three large trees were discovered cut down on South Grand Avenue. The environmental damage inflicted on the urban landscape represents not just a financial loss to the city but the destruction of decades of growth that provided shade, beauty, and environmental benefits to an area already lacking sufficient tree coverage.
Police arrested 44-year-old Samuel Patrick Groft on April 22 after tracking him to a homeless encampment, where they found him in possession of a spray-painted electric chainsaw that matched the one used in the crimes. Surveillance footage from multiple locations, combined with tips from the public and a receipt from a retail purchase, provided investigators with sufficient evidence to link Groft to the tree-cutting spree. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Groft made the bewildering claim during his arrest that he was an advocate for trees.
“I love trees. I love bark. I’m an arborist,” claimed Samuel Patrick Groft, as reported by The Epoch Times.
Significant Charges and Potential Prison Time
Groft now faces nine felony counts of vandalism and two misdemeanors, with the total damage estimate approaching $350,000. In California, vandalism becomes a felony when damages exceed $400, and each of the trees Groft destroyed far surpassed that threshold. Judge George Lomeli denied Groft’s request for release on his recognizance, citing his lengthy criminal history. The suspect remains behind bars with bail set at $350,000, matching the estimated value of the destruction he caused.
“It appears to this court that the charges in the underlying complaint… have been committed. There is probable cause and a strong suspicion that the conduct involved this defendant, Mr. Samuel Groft,” stated Judge George Lomeli, as reported by Yahoo News.
Detective Michael Pineda explained how law enforcement located the suspect: “We went to one of the locations over at Custer and Sunset. Once we got there, we found him there with the evidence, the same clothing, bicycle, and the chainsaw,” as reported by CBS News. The irony of Groft’s arrest taking place on Earth Day, April 22, was not lost on the suspect himself, who reportedly commented about being arrested on that particular day, though his precise reasoning remains unclear.
Community Impact and Recovery Efforts
The destruction of these trees represents a significant loss to the downtown Los Angeles community, where urban greenery provides essential environmental benefits in an otherwise concrete landscape. District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized the profound impact of Groft’s actions and the asymmetrical nature of the damage, destroying in minutes what had taken years or decades to grow. The prosecutor has vowed to pursue the case vigorously, recognizing the environmental and community harm caused by the senseless destruction.
“What took years to grow only took minutes to destroy,” said District Attorney Nathan Hochman,
In response to the destruction, City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado has announced community efforts to not just replace the trees but to expand the urban forest. The city has committed to a two-to-one replacement policy, meaning 26 new trees will be planted to replace the 13 that were destroyed. The LA Conservation Corps and Northeast Trees organizations have stepped forward to donate the replacement trees, demonstrating a community-wide commitment to restoring and enhancing the urban environment despite this senseless act of vandalism.
