A car was one of 20 vandalized on 35th Street between Broadway and 31st Avenue in March (Photo: Christina Santucci)
May 31, 2021 By Christina Santucci
Police said they have arrested a 57-year-old man and charged him with spray painting dozens of cars in Astoria over the past few months.
Astoria resident Herberto Torres was hit with 46 counts of making graffiti, criminal mischief and possession of a graffiti instrument, the NYPD said.
Cops had been investigating four separate graffiti sprees involving 65 vehicles and dating back more than two months. Torres was charged with 46 of those graffiti incidents, and the rest remain under investigation, according to the NYPD.
Torres allegedly tagged multiple cars with the letter “A” — which is a nickname he uses, authorities and police sources said.
Twenty cars were spray painted between 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. March 26 on 35th Street between 31st Avenue and Broadway, according to the NYPD.
An additional 20 vehicles were vandalized on 27th Street between 23rd Avenue and Ditmars Boulevard May 18 between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., and the next day between 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. 17 more vehicles were tagged on 33rd Street between 23rd Avenue and Ditmars Boulevard. A mix of white and red-colored spray paint was used in the May 19 spree.
Another eight vehicles were spray painted between 7:35 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. May 22 on 32nd Street between 34th Avenue and Broadway, authorities said.
Police arrested Torres just after midnight Friday morning. He was given a desk appearance ticket and released, the New York Post reported.
Sources told the Post that police tracked the accused graffiti bandit to an auto body shop where he worked after a customer’s car was allegedly used in connection with the crimes.
Torres was previously arrested in October and charged with spray painting more than a dozen vehicles in Jackson Heights with the phrases “BLM” or “AOC,” police said. Court records show that his next court appearance on those charges is in August.
A spokesperson for the NYPD said Sunday that similar graffiti with the letter “A” discovered on a house and car on 63rd Street near 51st Street in Woodside May 19 was still under investigation.
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22 Comments
Yea no was physically hurt so i see why they just gave hom a desk ticket. But what about the psychological stress he may have caused. Imagine the stress of the pandemic and then having to deal with filing police reports and cleaning up the mess he made in addition to not knowing if it was random or if you were targeted by someone who knows where you live or what car you drive. It can be very stressful.
Possession is nine tenths of the law.
These things cost money. Not everyone sells Tiffany box blue for cars.
An AOC and BLM supporter.
Says it all.
Indeed.
Why do you have to make everything identity politics?
Clearly, you don’t know the meaning of identity politics.
And they identified with Trump because, presumably, they are wealthy elites just like him. So what does it mean?
Clearly not, tell me how the Trump voters identified please
He’s their king, their boss?
Free will, people!
Good point, AOC and BLM had nothing to do with this, unless Giuliani had something to do with the capitol riots…
It can’t be blamed or held responsible for anything.
I’m certain he doesn’t care less about BLM and AOC. He just wants to provoke
Can’t believe this only gets charges of grafetti and criminal mischief, especially with thousands of dollars in damages he caused. And he’s back on the street?
He should still be in jail from his October arrest. A ball peen hammer to his hands would impart a valuable lesson.
He’s also an AOC supporter- no surprise!
I/WE can sleep again. All 12,000 of ME/US thank the NYPD. #bluelivesmatter LOL
I agree with Joe’s comment. This is a small example of how this city protects the criminals first and foremost. This loser should have been put away a long time ago. Likely he’ll get another slap on the wrist under De Blasio and the local politicians. They’ll claim he’s just misunderstood and needs someone to speak kindly to him.
43 prior arrests.
Even if they are “minor” crimes, why is this guy not serving time?
because Dumblasio thinks criminals should not be held accountable, much like himself and his wife.
Including and especially
Himself!!!
Progressives and minorities want the jails emptied. They cry mass incarceration. This is what you get!
Or robbing the streets.
Whatever gets them ahead in life.