PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – A 22-year-old Portland man faces more than 2 dozen charges after vandalizing dozens of businesses and city property with graffiti.
On Monday, the Multnomah County District Attorney announced the indictment of 22-year-old Emile Laurent, who they say painted graffiti on dozens of Portland businesses and city properties over the past four years.
Law enforcement said Laurent caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to government and private property.
Authorities said Loran painted or painted the word “Tendo” on the walls of businesses, dumpsters and other public places.
Aaron Voorhees, president of industrial equipment supplier FA Bennett, told Fox 12 he believes Loran hit the building. However, Voorhees said the graffiti problem goes far beyond that.
“Every weekend there could be a new account,” Voorhees said. “And sometimes we come in the morning and find a new color.”
Voorhies also says the graffiti hurts the morale of their neighborhood, and FE Bennett spends hundreds of dollars a year to cover up the paint.
More than 12 other businesses and city property were reported damaged in Laurent. The owner of Oregon Leather Company in Old Town shared these photos of the building showing the damage to the graffiti.
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For Voorhees at FE Bennett, he hopes the man who tagged the building will learn from his mistake.
“Why put your skills on graffiti when you can put your skills on something better like mural painting and positive things?”
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Loran is scheduled to be arraigned in Multnomah County Court on Wednesday.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said on Twitter Monday that he wants anyone vandalizing businesses or city property to be held accountable.
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