Bruin Bear Painted In USC Colors, 2 Arrested

WESTWOOD, CA — Two young men were arrested Wednesday for allegedly vandalizing the Bruin Bear on the UCLA campus a few days before the annual football game with USC.

Louie Torres, 19, and Willie Johnson, 18, neither of whom is affiliated with either college, were arrested on warrants Wednesday, UCLA Police Lt. Kevin Kilgore said.

Both were booked on suspicion of conspiracy and felony vandalism, and bail was set at $10,000 for each suspect, Kilgore said.

The crime occurred about 2 a.m. on Nov. 13, Kilgore said.

"The Bruin Bear was vandalized while it was secured in a wooden box for the UCLA-USC football game that weekend," Kilgore said. "Two suspects pried open the wooden case and painted the Bruin Bear with red and yellow paint, resulting in damage of over $15,000."

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the UCLA Police Department Detective Unit at (310) 825-1491.

City News Service; Photo: (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)