Evanston Man Charged In 'Ender' Graffiti Tagging: Police

EVANSTON, IL — A 38-year-old Evanston man faces felony charges after police arrested him in connection with what they believe is a series of graffiti tagging incidents around Evanston that all use the same moniker, police said.

Daniel Burnett has been charged with one felony count of criminal damage to state-supported property last month after police witnessed him using a paint roller at the Central Street Chicago Transit Authority station, according to Evanston Police Commander Ryan Glew.

Police believe Burnett may be behind similar graffiti incidents all of which use the moniker or tag of “Ender”, while other incidents included the name, “Ender the Friendly Ghost.” Glew said on Thursday that officers witnessed Burnett using the paint roller at the CTA station on Dec. 15, but did not arrest him at the time.

Instead, he remained under police surveillance, and he was arrested and charged six days later. Glew said that there have been numerous “similar incidents” involving the “Ender” tag, but Burnett has only been charged in one incident.

Glew said that many of the incidents took part in the eastern part of Evanston and that catching a suspect in a tagging incident in which damage is done to property is actually arrested.

Glew said that graffiti incidents “come and go” around Evanston, but that when numerous incidents involving tagging take place, “It can be quite the nuisance.”

Glew said the initial reports of the Ender tagging sparked a police investigation that led police to connect Burnett to the crime and allowed police to witness the Evanston man tagging the CTA station.