By Morgan Jarema / The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — A recent outbreak of graffiti in the city is being blamed on high school students from Byron Center, Grand Rapids Christian and East Grand Rapids, police said.

“While we’re working hard to redevelop this neighborhood, those from higher economic neighborhoods are imposing the blight, and that’s a tragedy,” said Guy Bazzani, whose commercial building at 920 Cherry St. SE was the site of five arrests last weekend.

“They’re robbing the soul of this community,” he said.

Dylan Hettinga, 17, and Benjamin Witte, 18, both Grand Rapids residents, were charged Wednesday with entering without permission, a 90-day misdemeanor. They were arrested Feb. 11.

Separately, three 16-year-olds were arrested on Feb. 12, also at 920 Cherry, and face identical charges, Lt. Ralph Mason said. Police have not released their names before they appear in juvenile court.

There also are others involved, Mason said. The suspects told police that areas to be “tagged” are determined by a group of graffiti artists from the suburbs.

“We know it’s not just these five, there’s no question,” Mason said.

Todd Tofferi, of the Streets and Sanitation Department, said the city does not have a budget for graffiti cleanup, but “we probably spend at least $40,000 a year.”

“You have at least a dozen or so taggers who want to put their artwork wherever they feel like it,” he said. “Until recently, it’s mostly been under overpasses and in alleys, but some of these individuals have gotten more bold and do a whole sweep in one area.”

He said the city is working on an ordinance that would require community service and possibly electronic tethers for people who are caught.

Angie Dow, chairwoman of the graphic design program at Kendall College of Art &Design, stopped class Wednesday to talk to students about the vandalism.

Dow said graffiti artists might choose to avoid legitimate places to display their art or they do it out of rebellion.

“Is it considered talent? Resoundingly yes,” Dow said. ” If it’s on private property, that’s vandalism.”

Bazzani, who is working to renovate his Cherry Street building for the Inner City Christian Federation, said about $5,000 has been spent to increase security because of vandalism. Cleanup could cost “tens of thousands.”