Ricky Gaddy, 19, of Sallisaw remains in the Sallisaw Jail, paying off his fines for his "art," after he admitted to "tagging" several buildings around Sallisaw, including a building at Tommie Spear Middle School.
Tagging isn't the term for the popular game of tag children play in elementary school. This tagging pertains to the handiwork of graffiti artists on surfaces that can be viewed by the public.
"To him it's art - not a vandalism type deal," Sallisaw Police Detective Jeff Murray said.
Tagging is like a signature - it's just done in spray paint and on walls, buildings and even trains without the property owner's consent. A tag signifies the moniker, or name, for a particular graffiti artist's group.
In Gaddy's case, the words "Blue" and "IPS" were part of his tagging that ended up in black spray paint on several walls in Sallisaw.
While graffiti is commonplace in large cities, such as Los Angeles, where entire walls are adorned with vibrant images and words, in Sallisaw, Gaddy's markings didn't fly.
Murray explained that Gaddy previously lived in California and told police that he was a member of a group called IPS, which Murray said signifies "Illest Pieces Since 1997." At the middle school, Gaddy spelled out "IPS" as "Insane Pimp Squad." "Blue" was Gaddy's nickname in that group, which he also painted on some walls.
Murray explained Gaddy saw the markings as art because in Los Angeles graffiti is so prevalent that police ignore it, unless they catch someone in the act.
While Gaddy was a member of a tagging group in California, he told police that there is no such group in Sallisaw.
"It was a single-man operation," Murray said. "No one else touched the can of spray paint."
Gaddy told police that he was peer pressured into spray painting his art. He had some drawings and friends wanted to see it in spray paint.
All done within an hour's time in the early hours of March 20, Gaddy allegedly tagged several places in Sallisaw. At the discount store Fred's Gaddy climbed up on the roof to spray paint several words on the building. He also allegedly tagged a semi-tractor trailer at Furniture Liquidators, as well as walls at the middle school. Gaddy also allegedly tagged a billboard near Interstate 40.
"He admitted to all of it," Murray said.
Through their investigation, police found information that led to Gaddy's arrest.
"He was apologetic," Murray said of Gaddy.
Gaddy's quick admission and remorse about the incident led police to only charge him with the misdemeanor through the city court - not district court. Murray said Gaddy told him that when he gets out of jail, which could be in the next three to five days, he wants to clean up any graffiti that is left.
The city has seen other isolated cases of tagging. Murray said several years ago a group of juveniles vandalized several places in the city.
