St. Pete Graffiti ‘Artist’ Arrested

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A graffiti artist who has kept St. Petersburg Police hopping for several months is behind bars, according to the agency. The man’s alleged spree has included several buildings in the downtown area and along the city’s east side to as far north as Gandy Boulevard.

The agency announced the arrest of Julian Eugene Grimes, 28, on Monday, Oct. 3. He’s been connected to four cases so far and police say he may be responsible for another five. As of Monday, Grimes faces four felony counts of criminal mischief.

“Detectives have been actively pursuing Grimes and other graffiti vandals responsible for damaging signs, buildings, mailboxes and walls downtown for several months,” the agency explained in an email to media.

A break in the case came on Sept. 27 when police say a security guard at the Frontier Building, 821 1st Ave. N., spotted a scooter parked beside the building and heard a noise coming from the east side of the building.

“She saw a man painting the building and confronted him,” the email said. “He dropped a plastic bottle containing paint and fled on the scooter. Detectives were able to obtain evidence from the bottle that connected Grimes to the crime.”

The tag at the Frontier Building site was connected to others “by unique features Grimes used, as well as video surveillance,” the email added.

At present, Grimes is accused of painting graffiti on the Frontier Building and at the following locations:

• Credence Capital – 2805 Dr. Martin Luther King St.
• Durango Building – 3901 4th St. N.
• Vision Works – 3301 4th St. N.

Estimates for cleanup are pending, police said.

Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Police Department