Vandal defacing spots around Lakeland

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - Deputies in Polk County are trying to track down a graffiti artist.

Security cameras caught him tagging the outside of Aloha Tanning in Lakeland. 

“It is frustrating we have to take time out of our day to go and take care of something else that shouldn’t be a problem,” said employee Drew Bradley.

The so-called artist has been busy defacing at least seven locations in Polk County. One of the spots was a vacant building directly behind the historic Polk Theater in downtown Lakeland.

“Oh, I’d like to just slap them. As a mother, I’d just slap them,” said concerned citizen Nancy Russell.

It’s tough to tell exactly what the tags say. Deputies are guessing it could be the letters K-E-R-M. 

Regardless, the tagger is facing multiple counts of criminal mischief and burglary.

“It hurts the community it’s definitely not victimless,” Brian Bruchey, spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.