In a rare act of quick justice, the culprit of the recent vandalism to four pieces of artwork on the UCLA campus has been captured.
Ricky Lee Owens, 47, of Compton was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism and was being held at a county jail, said Carol Stogsdill, UCLA director of media relations. The artwork, four sculptures by Venice artist Robert Graham, were toppled last Monday evening. Coincidentally, the vandalism occurred the night before the California Coastal Commission was to rule about the installation of one of his controversial works in a Venice neighborhood (it was approved).
Hooray for the police work that solved this case quickly - and in turn may have defused even more antagonism between Graham supporters and the Venice neighborhood where his latest work is being accepted rather coldly.
· Man Held in Vandalism of 4 Sculptures at UCLA [West LA Online]
· USC Students: Bruins Hate Public Art [Curbed LA]