18-year-old Beaverton man arrested for series of graffiti in Portland

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – A Beaverton man was arrested early Thursday morning and faces charges related to a series of graffiti incidents, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

Shortly after 6:30 a.m., police responded to a call that a vandal was tagging a series of surfaces along Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, last seen near the intersection with Southeast 11th Avenue.

Police said they found the suspect, identified as Aiden Rivero, 18, of Beaverton, near Southeast Madison Street and Southeast Sixth Avenue.

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According to PPB, when officers tried to stop him, Rivero tried to run away. Police said they caught and arrested him near Southeast Salmon Street and Southeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Police said they found graffiti materials including spray cans and paint markers at Rivero's home, which they seized as evidence.

PPB said Rivero uses the tagger name “GEM” and is reportedly a “prolific tagger” they know. According to PPB, one of Rivero's tags was found on a TriMet bus shelter.

Rivero was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center and faces charges of first-degree criminal mischief and third-degree escape. Police said they are also investigating at least 20 other charges for which Rivero could face additional charges.

Police asked anyone with information about Rivero or the “GEM” tags to email [email protected], attention Central NRT, and reference case number 24-226040.

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