Graffiti News & Blog

I took out the picture of this guy out of the article out of respect for him … but I’ve always wondered about the artists that put their work on the web.  I guess if you’re going to do that, be careful about it.  Although I’m no legal expert it seems if you post illegal work on the web, the police can work with an Internet service provider to track you down through your IP address?  Wouldn’t mind seeing this guy’s tags … and at least they call him an “Artist” in the headline.

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By GRETYL MACALASTER
Article Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

PORTSMOUTH — A local graffiti artist’s online requests for feedback on his work ultimately landed him in hot water with police this month.  Thanks to those online postings, police arrested Alan Hall, 27, of 100 Ledgewood Drive for allegedly “tagging” numerous properties in the city.

Online postings of graffiti in the city with the tag “SINS” led to Hall’s arrest last month on seven counts of criminal mischief, including one felony for spray-painting buildings and road signs all over the city.  Hall was arraigned on the charges Monday in Portsmouth District Court and ordered not to possess any paint products between now and his probable cause hearing.

Hall allegedly spray painted numerous properties in the city in April and May, including the pump house of the pool at Portsmouth High School, the rear of the old Regal Cinema on Lafayette Road, the back door of the Green Monkey restaurant on Pleasant Street, the rear of the Waterstone Development, which houses the Goodwill, Shaw’s and other shops on Lafayette Road, at least two road signs and a traffic control box, police said.  Hall is free on $2,500 personal recognizance bail.

According to a police report, Detective Robert Munson had seen the tag “SINS” around town, as well as in Manchester and along Route 101. He also received information that the person who spray painted the pump house had posted photographs on the Internet.

Munson found images of the vandalized property on a graffiti site called “Bombing Science” and was able to track them to Hall.  When arrested, Hall admitted to the “SINS” tag, Munson said in his report.  Hall’s probable cause hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5.