YouTube video leads to $10K of spray paint in alleged graffiti artist's home
Authorities seized thousands of dollars' worth of spray paint during a search of a graffiti vandal's Portland home on Tuesday after officers were tipped off by a YouTube docuseries.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Thousands of dollars' worth of spray paint was seized during a search of an alleged graffiti vandal's Portland home on Tuesday after officers were tipped off by a YouTube docuseries, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
Authorities served a search warrant to the Centennial Neighborhood home on Southeast 174th Avenue, where they found 1,500 cans of spray paint, and other vandalism materials, worth more than $10,000.
According to PPB, 40-year-old James S. Fischel lives in the home and is responsible for Graffiti Is Me Escaping Reality, or GIMER, tags across the city.
The investigation into Fischel began in mid-May when two officers were alerted to an episode of the CHAOSTOWN YouTube docuseries titled "Portland is losing the graffiti war" which features Fischel, who "went to great lengths to conceal his identity," PPB said.
Authorities seized more than 1,500 cans of spray paint worth $10,000 from an accused Portland graffiti vandal’s home on June 24, 2024, where James S. Fischel lives. Portland police said he is responsible for the GIMER tags across the city (courtesy Portland Police Bureau.) 
Authorities seized more than 1,500 cans of spray paint worth $10,000 from an accused Portland graffiti vandal’s home on June 24, 2024, where James S. Fischel lives. Portland police said he is responsible for the GIMER tags across the city (courtesy Portland Police Bureau.) 
Authorities seized more than 1,500 cans of spray paint worth $10,000 from an accused Portland graffiti vandal’s home on June 24, 2024, where James S. Fischel lives. Portland police said he is responsible for the GIMER tags across the city (courtesy Portland Police Bureau.) 
Authorities seized more than 1,500 cans of spray paint worth $10,000 from an accused Portland graffiti vandal’s home on June 24, 2024, where James S. Fischel lives. Portland police said he is responsible for the GIMER tags across the city (courtesy Portland Police Bureau.) 
Authorities seized more than 1,500 cans of spray paint worth $10,000 from an accused Portland graffiti vandal’s home on June 24, 2024, where James S. Fischel lives. Portland police said he is responsible for the GIMER tags across the city (courtesy Portland Police Bureau.)
The officers were able to identify Fischel and the home where he stashed his spray paint supply, or as he called it in the docuseries, “’every graffiti writer’s fantasy,’” PPB said.
Even though Fischel is “out of the area,” PPB said authorities are aware of his location and are pursuing criminal charges.