Toronto Transit Commission

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - June 14, 2006) - On Thursday, June 8, at approximately 4:10 a.m., TTC Special Constables were conducting surveillance of a subway yard as part of Project Picasso and arrested a pair of graffiti vandals spray painting a parked subway train with the tags of Causr, Erin, DP and MVP.

Over the last year there have been several incidents where graffiti "taggers" have entered various transit properties and spray painted parked subway trains and defaced them with tags that resulted in thousands of dollars of damage.

Project Picasso was established in May of 2006 to combat these criminal acts ultimately resulting in the apprehension of a male and female.

Arrested were Phillip Nynkowski, 23, Toronto, and Danielle Bremner, 24, New York.

The Special Constables transported the couple to the Toronto Police Service's 53 Division for further investigation and processing.

Detectives at 53 Division to date have charged the couple with seven counts of Mischief Under $5,000.00.

Further charges are pending.

This couple was also arrested by the Boston Police Department on May 24 for similar offences.

TTC's Special Constables have determined that the same tags have shown up in Vancouver and the two cities are exchanging information at this time.

As a result of these arrests significant intelligence was gathered pertaining to the identities of other graffiti "taggers" and more arrests are expected in the near future.

TTC Special Constables will aggressively pursue those who chose to commit these criminal acts on transit properties and vehicles.