At Groft's first Los Angeles court appearance last month, he was denied release on his own recognizance. The judge noted that he has an "extensive criminal record" and remains jailed on $350,000 bail.

Over five days in the middle of April, Los Angeles police say a man named Samuel Patrick Groft chopped down about a dozen city trees with an electric chainsaw. He was arrested on April 22, Earth Day.

The tree canopy across Los Angeles leaves a lot to be desired. A 2021 study by the city, found that 20% of the tree canopy within the city limits was located in just four neighborhoods.

Updated April 30, 2025 at 16:05 PM ET For days, police say, Samuel Patrick Groft cruised through the streets of Los Angeles on his bicycle, single-handedly chopping down about a dozen city trees ...

Updated May 14, 2025 at 12:52 PM CDT For days, police say, Samuel Patrick Groft cruised through the streets of Los Angeles on his bicycle, single-handedly chopping down about a dozen city trees with ...

As a procession of construction trucks drives through the blackened streets of Los Angeles County's Altadena neighborhood, the first signs of natural regrowth can be seen in sidewalk planters. The ...