Description

After years of watching the new street trees along Lake Merritt Boulevard be vandalized I think I finally spotted the culprit.

As of 3:25 PM today he was walking eastbound on the north side of Lake Merritt Boulevard ripping branches off the trees near the intersection with 12th Street.

He appears to be the longest term homeless camper in the Lake Merritt Boulevard area. His campsite has most recently been at the very southernmost end of the underpass walkway (west side of the channel) that connects the lakeshore path with Peralta Park.

Male, approx. 50 years old, approx. 6 feet tall, Black, partly balding. I would not be surprised if this single individual was entirely responsible for the damage and destruction of dozens of trees and shrubs in this area over the last few years.