LANCASTER – Surveillance video led authorities to the man they say is responsible for scrawling “Caveman” on signs and storefronts at 72 separate locations in downtown Lancaster and causing $35,000 in property damage in the process.
Edward Dorian Simmet, 26, also known as “Caveman,” was arrested Tuesday afternoon and booked at the Lancaster Station on suspicion of Felony Vandalism.
The following is the news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station:
On Tuesday, April 17, 2012, Deputies assigned to Lancaster Station’s Community Oriented Response and Enforcement (CORE) team, arrested Edward Simmet AKA “Caveman” who is suspected of committing 72 acts of vandalism that resulted in nearly $35,000 in property damage to the downtown Lancaster area.
In the early morning hours of Sunday April 15, 2012, Lancaster station received a report of a person committing vandalism on Lancaster Boulevard.
When deputies arrived, they found several signs and storefronts that had “Caveman” painted on them. As the deputies searched the area for the suspect, they found a total of 72 separate locations that had “Caveman” freshly painted in red on them.
The investigation was assigned to CORE Team Deputies Deloof and Goedecke. Using surveillance video they received from several businesses in the area, they quickly identified Simmet as the suspect. Within hours, they located and arrested Simmet in the 1100 block of West Avenue K.
Simmet is being charged with felony vandalism and his bail is set at $20,000.
“First, I want to say thank you to the citizens who had the courage to speak up and report the crime they saw being committed,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “Secondly, I’d like to reiterate – crime doesn’t pay here in Lancaster, but you will pay when you’re caught.”
Lancaster Station Captain Bob Jonsen commented: “The quick arrest of this suspect surely prevented further acts of vandalism. I am very proud of the relationship, which Lancaster Station has with the residents of our city. Their willingness to partner with us helps make our city a safer place to raise our families. Remember, if you see something, say something.”
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Joseph Bonely says
Sounding a bit racially biased!
elijah says
well i think its a sham.. lets pin all these tags on the one guy we caught on video doing one…all i am saying is prove the rest..should he be blamed for all?? hell no! and he wont..
” i dont want this place to become like sfv?” your an idiot sir..stay in your turtle shell, and lash out against taggers from your computer..it really is helping the community..really..good job typing. you, are making the difference..
but there is not enough proof to get him on 72 counts..he will be accountable for the ones caught on video and thats it!! sorry to all the over judgmental people out there..im glad you came to the conclusion in your head, where it doesnt matter, that he is guilty..but without video proof of every single tag, he was accussed of doing, he will not be charged with all..nice waste of front page news!! i wonder if they will have an update on the front page when he walks with community service..i doubt it, but what a really good way to pat yourselves on the back for finding a tagger!!!lol… any luck with real crimes??? SFV has so many real crimes that if they chased taggers, the true crimes will pile up!! taking that into consideration, is chasing “caveman” worth it? or should are police be chasing something bigger??? great, ya caught a small fish!!! lets put it on the front page! blind civilians will think this is good.. the ones who see, will know this is a waste of time.. put our tax money to work, dont chase taggers..please..
...american says
Well, you have to understand this was done on the BLVD…
Send him back to L.A.? or did he escape from the Trailer Park, maybe he was on break from the Meth Lab? just wondering…I wounder if the cops checked his Tooth to Tatoo ratio and made a gang card for him.
Joseph Bonely says
Its so easy for people like you to pass judgement on people you dont know! Pretty nice how you assume that hes a piece of trash and comes from poverty and get all raciest. You assume to much. Your boundries of thinking a far too small. In fact the only thing that surpasses your intelligence is your stupidity and ignorence!!! What an Adam Henry!
...american says
Haven’t you noticed? That’s what they do on this site. I was only trying to make a point. Every time something is written about a black person, some people make assumptions
...american says
cont.. about them being on section 8 or welfare. Always guilty until proven innocent. I don’t know this man and I hope ,he only gets what he deserves and not what LASD decides should be his fate.
dealwithit says
You promised, on another story on this site, that you were done with this site! I knew it was too good to be true!
By the way,LASD doesn’t decide anyone’s fate, it’s the court system. You need some education.
T-Bone says
Gotta stir it up a little…Would people be saying “Free Caveman” if he wasn’t White? All the sudden it is Just a Word writen on the wall? Where are all those people saying “Go Back To LA” at now?
J. Ripper says
So easy, even a… …could do it.
Justice Callout says
Did the Lord Mayor say “crime does not pay in Lancaster”? He seems to be doing pretty well.
Chris says
This is ridiculous! Why are you coming to the defense of this criminal? The last thing this valley needs is more people that want to defend the “rights” of criminals. I have lived in this valley long enough to see an increase in crime, but I want to see it go right back down.
What this man did was vandalism, he willingly went out at night to destroy downtown property. Some of these comments make it sound like he is a victim of some sort. That is ridiculous! Tagging is a crime, and is punishable! I hope that everyone who destroys property like this will be similaryly punished for their wrongdoing.
If we don’t put a stop to this now we will end up looking like the San Fernando Valley.
Don’t let crime get a foothold in this community like it already has in LA and the SFV so many years ago.
We should all band together to fight this kind of crime, and encourage the positive growth of this community.
There is much I still love about this community, and I want to encourage this place to continue to grow into a great place.
S. Parker says
Amen, thank you very much, I agree 100%!! I too was baffled when I read some of these comments. It’s like, good grief why are you trying to make a tagger into a martyr??? Don’t we have enough pride in our community to know that those that deface property should be prosecuted?
To all those trying to defend Caveman: Would you still defend him if you were a homeowner and he scribbled “Caveman” all over your prized $300K investment? Let’s stop condoning bad behavior now! No tolerance! Thank you LASD for quickly catching Caveman the CRIMINAL!!
Joseph Bonely says
Free Caveman, what might have been done is wrong but really? Keep the jail open for real criminals. I would gladly help clean up the artwork, no biggie. grindage is no crime so dont harsh it.
Cambria says
It looks in the picture that he is walking..as he should be from this case. to be made an example of over a single colored single lined signature seems outrageous(if it is him) when you have pedos prowling, rapers rapeing, drugs, real gang grafitti claiming territory. how about the bravery of citizens standing up and saying something about this huge waste of time and money and useless printings of news papers when we could be buying and supporting the stop to real crime.
Gladdis says
Tagging other people’s property is wrong. Caveman is wrong for doing it and he knows it. That’s why he snuck around at night, in the dark, with his paint. Maybe, Skippy and Sky should ask their Mom’s if they can go help clean it up. Go to jail Caveman, or rehab or the moon.
... says
If this guy was African American, they would say send him away to jail for as long as possible. There’s a lot of sick people in this Valley…
bunz says
it cost a dollar for some rubbing alcohol to take off the sharpie on the 5cent cardboard sign…..
elijah says
free this man!! dont harsh his gig so hardcore cruster!!! this sounds extreme..we all know there are impostors.. especially in graffiti.. a bunch of kids are hot on the caveman thing!! i see it everywhere!! from san francisco to san diego..are you to tell me this guy did them all??? ridiculous!!if they have actual video of this guy? then maybe hes reponsable for that one..but prove the rest!!thats it!! 70 something in one night!!! they cant prove that, just because they all “look” the same!!! hes out doing community service in a week.
hannah says
FREE CAVEMAN!!!
sky says
AGREED!!!!!! ^^^
FREE CAVEMAN! says
You guys seriously made it seem like he chopped up children, Get some paint thinner…..its much less than 35000 $ and there is NO way some one could tag 72!! tags in one night! fresh? c’mon give me a break, or this poor guy!
Viva_Caveman says
Free Caveman!
Palmdale_Steve says
Is Caveman some sort of code speak for Deputy Dog Smith who is running for the assembly?
T-Bone says
Looks like a young Rex!
... says
Uuuum,wonder if he’s on section 8 or homless?
oldfart says
You cant tell me that Cave did all that damage. Its not that tagging like the side of boxcars! This was small stuff.. What do you mean by it took courage to come forward ? These witness’s where never threatened in any way and saying anything about this would never have put them in danger by cave. I knew the mayor would make an example of him! Cave is a decent man that had a moment. Havent we all. Free the Man. Hes a good guy! Love you Cave.
Adam Chant says
A Big Thank You to the business owners who provided the video footage.
I don’t know if you want to be identified so I wont say, but I’ll be dancing in the streets over the juicy results of this capture.