A Seven-Day Assault on City Greenery (Image Credits: Ca-times.brightspotcdn.com)
Los Angeles – Samuel Patrick Groft received a two-year prison term this week for a destructive spree that toppled more than a dozen mature trees across downtown neighborhoods last spring.[1][2]
A Seven-Day Assault on City Greenery
Prosecutors described Groft’s actions as a calculated rampage that unfolded over seven days starting April 13, 2025. The 45-year-old rode a BMX-style bicycle through downtown Los Angeles, Westlake, and Glassell Park, wielding a battery-powered chainsaw from a backpack.[1][3]
Witnesses and surveillance footage captured him striking both by day and night. He felled 12 trees completely and severed a major limb from a 13th, leaving decades-old specimens crumpled on sidewalks.[2] Specific targets included trees on the 500 block of North Broadway, the 1500 block of West 8th Street, the 350 block of South Grand Avenue, and the 300 block of Treadwell Street.[3]
One particularly brazen incident occurred on April 14 outside a downtown business, where three juniper trees valued at $10,000 each met the blade.[2] Another unfolded at Olympic Boulevard and Hope Street, where a fallen trunk blocked pedestrian paths.
Swift Police Pursuit and Arrest
Los Angeles Police Department detectives pieced together the puzzle from video evidence and a key clue: a chainsaw purchase receipt bearing Groft’s name, obtained moments before he damaged a tree on North Figueroa Street.[1]
Officers located the homeless suspect on April 22 – Earth Day – at a park encampment near Custer Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard. He matched descriptions perfectly: black clothing, gloves, the same bike, and the chainsaw in hand.[2][3]
During the arrest, Groft expressed shock. LAPD Detective Jose Hidalgo recalled his words: “He said something like, ‘I love trees, I love bark, I’m an arborist.’”[1]
Court Confronts the Devastation
Groft faced initial charges of eight felony vandalism counts, later expanded to nine felonies and two misdemeanors. Damages reached nearly $350,000, with the city alone out $175,000 for cleanup and replacements under a two-for-one policy.[4][2]
His defense raised mental competency concerns and substance issues, but a judge ruled him fit to stand trial after evaluation. On February 11, 2026, just before jury selection, Groft pleaded no contest in Los Angeles County Superior Court.[1]
Deputy District Attorney Deisy Valenzuela pushed for accountability. District Attorney Nathan Hochman had earlier stated, “What took years to grow only took minutes to destroy.” Trees, he added, nourish communities, and such acts demand full prosecution.[4]
Neighborhood Resilience Takes Root
The vandalism struck hard in revitalizing areas, sparking widespread outrage. City officials held a replanting ceremony weeks later, installing oaks, desert willows, and drought-tolerant species at double the loss rate.[2]
- Councilmember Ysabel Jurado remarked, “Anytime DTLA has had a downturn, it comes back stronger.”
- Bureau of Street Services head Ana Tabuena-Ruddy labeled it eco-terrorism and detailed the new plantings.
- Damage assessments covered both public and private property, underscoring the broad toll.
Groft must pay restitution, with a hearing set for April. His prior convictions for assault, burglary, and vandalism factored into the stern sentence.
Key Takeaways
- 13 trees affected in seven days, causing $350,000 in losses.
- Groft arrested with damning evidence on Earth Day 2025.
- Two-year term reflects the irreplaceable value of urban forests.
Urban trees offer shade, beauty, and ecological balance – benefits Groft’s blade erased in moments. As Los Angeles greens anew, the case serves as a stark reminder of stewardship needs. What role do street trees play in your neighborhood? Tell us in the comments.
