Police Nab Alleged Bart Simpson Graffiti TaggerA Bart Simpson near Geary and 9th Ave. in March 2017. | Photos: Nikki Collister/Hoodline
Teresa Hammerl
Published on March 30, 2018

This week, police arrested a serial tagger who allegedly spread Bart Simpson graffiti from the Outer Richmond to Nob Hill.

On Tuesday, Central District police officers reported to the 600 block of Jackson Street after receiving a vandalism call. When officers arrived, they found Tyler Ross, 27, with paint on his hands and an open grocery bag containing several cans of spray paint.

Ross, who has no fixed address, was also found to be in possession of paint markers, white-out pens, etching pens and a Bart Simpson keychain.

A truck parked on Fulton Street between 27th and 28th Avenues in 2017.

A police officer who walked around the area also found a freshly spray-painted  Bart Simpson on the 700 block of Jackson Street. The paint in the image matched the paint on Ross’s hands and the cans found in his possession, SFPD noted.

At the time of his arrest, Ross was wearing a bright orange construction vest and a dark-colored shirt. Officers observed that Ross matched the description of the suspect near the corner of Grant Avenue and Jackson Street.

Booking photo of Tyler Ross. | Photo: SFPD

Based on evidence and witness statements, Ross was arrested and has been booked into San Francisco County Jail on felony and misdemeanor counts of vandalism. A SFPD press release announcing Ross' arrest included graffiti captured by Hoodline reporter Nikki Collister.

As we reported last year, images of Bart Simpson started to appear across he city, on bus shelters, buildings or vehicles. Muni spokesperson Paul Rose told Hoodline at the time that the illicit art predominantly appeared along routes for the 38, 49 and 47 bus lines.

While an arrest has been made, this remains an open and active investigation. Anyone who has information about this case is encouraged to contact SFPD via the department's anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444, or text TIP411 with "SFPD" at the start of the message.