Chainsaw Weilding Bike Rider Arrested For Cutting Down Trees in Downtown Los Angeles

By Sarah Storkin

One man. was arrested in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for cutting down at least 13 trees with a chainsaw over a 12-day period starting April 13. Samuel Patrick Groft, 44, had been taken into custody on suspicion of felony vandalism.

The suspect, identified as a homeless man named Groft, was apprehended after a 12-day rampage during which he allegedly cut down at least 13 mature trees while bicycling in and around downtown LA. The tree-cutting incidents began on April 13, 2025, and continued until the day of his arrest, April 22.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) identified and arrested Groft with the help of surveillance video and community tips. The incidents occurred both in broad daylight and in the middle of the night, with specific locations such as the 500 block of North Broadway (where one tree was cut) and near 1550 W (where three trees were sawed).

Cmdr. Lillian Carranza of the LAPD noted the unusual nature of the crime, stating, "I have 35 years on the Los Angeles Police Department, and I have never seen anyone go and attack trees, especially around the time of Earth Day." The arrest coincidentally happened on Earth Day, April 22, 2025, adding an ironic twist given the environmental impact of the vandalism.

The LAPD declined to share any possible motive for the tree cuttings, leaving the reason for Groft's actions unclear.

Residents expressed concerns about both safety and the environmental loss caused by the removal of the trees, which provided shade, stormwater management, and habitat. The loss of 13 mature trees in an urban area like downtown LA is significant, as trees play a critical role in mitigating heat and improving air quality.

L.A. City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents downtown, praised the city agencies for their quick response in both arresting the suspect and cleaning up the tree debris. She also introduced a motion to increase penalties in the municipal code for tree injury violations, aiming to deter similar acts of vandalism in the future.