Mary Cummins Investigative Reporter Los Angeles, California: April 2025

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Who is Samuel Groft, Sam Groft who sawed down Los Angeles trees? Mentally ill homeless convicted criminal by Mary Cummins

Samuel Groft, Sam Groft, Samuel Patrick Groft, chainsaw, sawzall, trees, los angeles, felony, vandalism, mary cummins

Who is Samuel Groft, Sam Groft, Samuel Patrick Groft? He's a mentally ill homeless man in Los Angeles, California who sawed down a bunch of trees in downtown LA. It looks like he was locked up until July 2017 then was released as mentally ill. He said he's finally free, enjoying the free world, will do things right this time. He was arrested days later. Turns out he was charged with murder, accessory after the fact, assault with a deadly weapon, hit and run, possession of meth, auto theft, extortion and a whole lot more. See his rap sheet below.

Samuel Groft, Sam Groft, Samuel Patrick Groft, chainsaw, sawzall, trees, los angeles, felony, vandalism, mary cummins

UPDATE: 04/25/2025 Press release about his arrests and charges. He's looking at 15 years and four months. The file says no bail and he's locked up.

"Samuel Groft (dob 10/15/80) was charged in case 25CJCF02255 with eight felony counts of vandalism. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in Department 30 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Between April 14 and April 19, Groft is accused of cutting down eight trees in Downtown Los Angeles. In all instances, Groft allegedly used a chainsaw to cut down the trees. Damages are approximately $347,000."

Eight charges of vandalism, eight charges of priors:

PC594(a)-F Vandalism Offense Date: 4/14/2025

001 PC1170.12 PRIOR: One or More Serious/Violent Felony Convictions

Next hearing 05/07/2025 08:30AM Preliminary Hearing Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Dept. - 35

His public defender is Mitra Rose Donde

https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/district-attorney-hochman-announces-man-charged-vandalizing-trees-los-angeles

ORIGINAL: Here is video of him saying a Rothschild will give him 18 trillion dollars. Clearly nuts. He's pro Trump and Zuckerberg. He thinks he's buddies with billionaires.

https://www.facebook.com/100019250340571/videos/187772581874419

He was involved in a case where he dumped a dead Korean man in Alhambra in 2008. He was considered armed and dangerous. Maybe that's why he was locked up until July 2018. The article says Groft just carried the body and the other person allegedly killed him. He was charged with murder and accessory after the fact. Convicted of accessory after the fact.

"A surveillance camera tape taken Oct. 21 shows two men carrying the limp body of Luciano Teadoro Brash, 31, of Koreatown into the Pacific Orthopaedic & Medical Center on South Garfield Avenue. The pair then dropped Brash’s body on the lobby floor and left."

https://www.dailynews.com/2008/10/29/dead-man-dumped-at-clinic-was-killed-near-the-site-investigators-say/

I see four bookings for him in Los Angeles county lasd.org . The last one is for the trees. $150,000 bail now $300,000 bail. The previous one had a $50,000 bail. Another was just a citation. None appear to have been prosecuted.

ALSO KNOWN AS (AKA)

Booking # Last Name First Name Middle Name Gender Race DOB Age

6675138 GROFT SAMUEL PATRICK M W 10/15/1980 42

6677170 GROFT SAMUEL PATRICK M W 10/15/1980 42

6967855 GROFT SAMUEL PATRICK M W 10/15/1980 44

7002769 GROFT SAMUEL PATRICK M W 10/15/1980 44

I found the rest of his Los Angeles county rap sheet at lacourt.org. It's very long starting in 2006. He's a convicted felon and cannot have a firearm.

LACBA517871-01 9/15/2023 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Two counts of burglary dismissed.

XCNBA469718-01 8/1/2018 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Vandalism. Convicted.

LACBA469718-01 7/19/2018 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Same as above.

LACBA442455-01 12/24/2015 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Convicted. PC245(a)(4)-F Assault With Deadly Weapon With Force: Possible Great Bodily Injury. This may be case that sent him to prison until July 2018.

XCNBA424911-01 8/13/2014 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
PC245(a)(1)-F Assault With Deadly Weapon: Not Firearm, DUI, hit and run, hit and run while drunk, alcohol over .08%, multiple counts of hit and run property damage, plea deal.

LACBA424911-01 5/21/2014 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Same as above

LACBA415123-01 8/16/2013 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Attempted extortion. Guilty.

XSEVA123517-02 3/6/2012 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 02 True Name Norwalk Courthouse
PC29800(a)(1)-F Possession of Firearm by a Narcotic Addict, possession of ammo, firearm activity, conviction after plea

XCNBA382022-01 4/21/2011 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
VC2800.2(a)-F Evading Peace Officer/Drive in Reckless Manner, vandalism, conviction fter plea

XNEGA074941-02 1/29/2010 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 02 True Name Pasadena Courthouse
Murder, accessory after the fact, murder dismissed, charge convicted. This must be about the dead Korean dude.

7CA05159 2/22/2007 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Central Arraignment Courthouse
Health and safety, possession of meth, convicted.

BHSA060399-01 5/26/2006 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Airport Courthouse
Grand theft auto, burglary tools, taking of car, convicted

LAH5HL02544-01 9/20/2005 GROFT, SAMUEL PATRICK 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
HS11550(a)-M Under Influence of a Controlled Substance, guilty

LACBA508534-01 8/26/2022 GROFT, SAMUEL 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Two counts C245(a)(1)-F Assault With Deadly Weapon: Not Firearm, destroy communication device, dismissed

REV3PR06120-01 8/29/2013 GROFT, SAMUEL 01 True Name Central Arraignment Courthouse
PC3455(a)-F Petition to Revoke Postrelease Community Supervision, dismissed

XCNBA314495-01 1/12/2007 GROFT, SAMUEL 01 True Name Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Burglary, burglary tools, take vehicle...convicted

6HY03391 11/29/2006 GROFT, SAMUEL 01 True Name Hollywood Courthouse
Assault with deadly weapon, convicted, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, dismissed.

Booking info from lasd.org below. He's 6'5" 230 lbs?

He was released from something around 2017. Maybe mental health prison?

Based on the below he gets money every month if he could pay $1,200 to share a room. Maybe gets money from state.

"On a recent afternoon, 43-year-old Sam Groft pulled out of his red and beige tent red wine he received for the holidays.

It’s something small that many Los Angelenos take for granted.

A full bottle of wine. On the streets, it’s a prize. To be savored. A small joy to break the doldrum of daily life.

Groft and so many unhoused people in Los Angeles find themselves on the streets because of a lack of mental health awareness and help for many years, leading to difficulties holding down a job and apartment. "

"When Groft was 23, he paid $825 a month for a two-bedroom in L.A.. That was the last time he lived in an apartment.

After graduating from a program through California’s mental health courts, a few years ago, he was offered a shared room for $1210 a month.

That seemed outrageous to him and he also declined because he did not want to share his space with a “schizophrenic guy.”

https://csulauniversitytimes.com/unhoused-la-residents-report-childhood-trauma-mental-illness-addiction-and-housing-prices-as-causing-homelessness-crisis

He has a LinkedIn account. He states he's homeless. Based on what he wrote he is delusional and mentally ill. Sounds like he was medicated but didn't like the drugs so got off of them.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-groft-05a4851b7/

This is his facebook page. Tattoos match and name, family members.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019250340571

Mother appears to be Pam in Foresthill, California. Father is Dan. He has a sister and nieces, nephews. Jean Duncan was his grandmother. Family is all local. Looks like normal upbringing but he just has severe mental illness. He may have a daughter who is an adult named Stamina.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/citrusheightsmessenger/name/jean-duncan-obituary?id=52490567

His Twitter account

https://x.com/samuelgroft1

Below is a photo of his tent. Article states he drinks alcohol.

He needs to be locked up forever in an institution. He clearly won't take his medication on his own.

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate is a certified residential licensed appraiser in Los Angeles, California. Mary Cummins is licensed by the California Bureau of Real Estate appraisers and has over 35 years of experience.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary, Cummins, #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, certified, single family, condo, condominium, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, fha, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, brea insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, 1073, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls, historical appraisal, facebook, linkedin

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Saturday, April 5, 2025

Hands Off! 50501 Protest March Pershing Square to LA City Hall April 5, 2025 by Mary Cummins

April 5, 2025 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm was the 50501 "Hands Off!" protest and march from Pershing Square to Los Angeles City Hall. At 3:55 pm people started pouring out of the Metro station into the park. The park got so full that people had to stay outside on the street. The street was totally packed by 5:00 pm. The march to City hall .7 miles away started around 5:30 pm. It was slow because everyone was packed so tightly.

There were a few amateur speaks starting at 3:00 pm. No politicians. People spoke about women's rights, immigrant rights. They also talked about what we can do to help fight for our country. One person said we should keep calling our representatives and tell them to take action.

The event was very peaceful and loving. Lots of dogs joined the protest and march. Tons of people took the Metro. I was there from 3:00 pm to 5:30. They started marching around 5:15 pm or so. My neck and back were killing me so I had to go home. It was 80 degrees and I was exhausted.

Five minute video of event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crXseqzHIWk

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