Police have jailed a teenager they say is one of Bakersfield’s most-prolific taggers.

Sgt. Joe Grubbs says BPD’s graffiti suppression team arrested 18-year-old Uriel Valdez just before noon Wednesday at a home on McCourry Street, northwest of White Lane and South H Street.

“He’s suspected of being involved in about 448 graffiti offenses, with a total cost of cleanup to Bakersfield taxpayers of $53,000.”

Grubbs says Valdez was the target of a year-long investigation and may have been a member of a tagging crew. He faces 10 counts of felony vandalism.

– Anthony Pollreisz