The prosecution added three new vandalism charges Wednesday against a man accused of using a chainsaw to cut down numerous trees on city property — primarily in downtown Los Angeles — as a hearing began to determine if there is enough evidence for the case against him to proceed to trial.
Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Valenzuela told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli that the latest three charges against Samuel Patrick Groft , 44, involve five trees that were cut between April 13 and April 19. He was already facing eight felony vandalism counts involving other trees damaged during roughly the same time period.
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Los Angeles Police Detective Ryan Watterson — who said he was investigating a tip regarding a tree being vandalized on the afternoon of April 13 on the east side of Avenue 26 near Figueroa Street — testified that he determined a chainsaw seen on surveillance video footage was sold exclusively by Harbor Freight. He noted that surveillance video footage from the store showed the suspect paying for the chainsaw at the nearby Harbor Freight store and that Groft’s name was on a receipt that day from the store.
LAPD Detective Roberto Gutierrez testified that he was told by a woman that three expensive juniper trees were cut down April 14 in front of her business in the 700 block of West Temple Street. He said the woman provided surveillance video footage showing the suspect holding a chainsaw and cutting down trees while wearing black gloves…