Iconic Street Artist COST Was Arrested Yesterday After Pasting in Meatpacking District
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Photo: @costkrt
COST is one of the most prolific street vandals in the game, having returned to form after a lengthy hiatus. Since his comeback in 2010, the 45-year-old Queens native (Adam Cole) puts up a dizzying number of bills each week, usually of the “Adam COST” or “COST ENX” variety. Now the party is over. The 45-year-old Cole was arrested yesterday, just a few days after a wheat-pasting sesh in the Meatpacking District.
Cops became suspicious early Sunday morning when they spotted him walking away from the scaffolding above the MCF Rare Wine shop on West 13th Street. Apparently a freshly unfurled COST bill was “still dripping with adhesive.” Police followed Cole to his car where they spotted drums of glue and rollers from the outside. A search warrant for the car was executed yesterday, and officers found “hundreds of stickers and posters with ‘Cost’ printed on them, as well as adhesives and brushes.”
According to NBC News, COST is charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti, and possession of a graffiti instrument in connection with nine separate graffiti incidents this year. He was released on bail after the arraignment and is due back in court on Friday.
It’s safe to say that we might not see new COST wheat-paste for a little while.
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