Chainsaw-wielding man accused of felling downtown L.A. trees is in custody, police say

The Los Angeles Police Department arrested a man on Tuesday who was captured on surveillance footage using a chainsaw to chop down multiple trees in downtown Los Angeles.

The vandalism sparked great intrigue and outrage when residents spotted the wooden carnage on South Grand Avenue and other areas of city-owned property over the weekend. A number of trees were severed at the base, while others were cut several feet above the pavement and a few were still connected to their trunks by just a thread of bark.

Shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, the LAPD released a community alert showing a photo of the suspect on a bicycle that described him as a man in his 40s. Around 90 minutes later, police announced that he had been taken into custody on suspicion of felony vandalism. Authorities did not immediately release his name.

The man is accused of felling trees near 1550 W. 8th St. at 3:40 p.m. Friday; near 350 S. Grand Ave. at 1:22 a.m. Saturday; and near 300 Treadwell St. at an unknown time, police said. Additional locations of fallen trees are still being investigated.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-22/police-arrest-man-accused-of-felling-downtown-l-a-trees-with-a-chainsaw