Judge dismisses tagging case against graffiti artist

DETROIT (AP) — A malicious destruction of property case against graffiti artist Shepard Fairey has been dismissed in Detroit.

Wayne County Circuit Court records show the dismissal was ordered recently by Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway.

Fairey had been scheduled to stand trial on charges of illegally tagging buildings while in Detroit to complete a commissioned project.

Three of the nine damaged properties were city-owned. Damage was estimated at $30,000.

City attorney Doug Baker said Hathaway cited a number of reasons for the dismissal. Baker said the city plans to appeal the ruling.

Fairey’s attorney, Bradley Friedman, declined to comment on the case’s dismissal.

Fairey was in Detroit in May 2015 to complete a 184-foot-tall mural on a downtown building.