Rangers Suspect Gangs Linked to Vandalism at Yosemite

by the Associated Press
Fresno Bee - May 31, 2003

Investigators believe gang activity in Fresno and Los Angeles may be linked to the graffiti sprayed along a popular trail in Yosemite National Park over the Memorial Day weekend.
Park rangers found the graffiti on rocks along Mist Trail, which leads to the summit of Half Dome. Laura Pearson, one of the rangers who examined the vandalism, said they had identified the words "CHON," "SUR" and "XIII" written in large black letters on the rocks.

Park officials estimated about 2,000 people had used the Mist Trail during the holiday weekend.

Pearson said investigators would be contacting police departments in southern California and the Central Valley to see whether the graffiti matched any so-called "gang tagging" in their areas.

"The only hope we really have in figuring out who did this is in figuring out where else this gang tagging appears," she said.

Pearson said rangers would scrape the letters off the rocks using a wire brush and special graffiti remover.

The Memorial Day incident is third time in a year that rangers have found evidence of gang tagging in the park.

Last year, a Riverside man was arrested after he tagged dozens of trees, rocks and buildings. 19-year-old Michael Trevino was caught with the help of local police who recognized the tags.

Information from: Los Angeles Times