City of Tempe, AZ
09/26/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2025 14:46
Tempe Police Arrest Suspect Tied to “Penis Man” Graffitidetail
TEMPE, AZ - Tempe Police arrested a man accused of spray-painting the words "Penis Man" on buildings in Tempe.
On Thursday afternoon, 36-year-old Tanner Ballengee was taken into custody in Phoenix by Tempe Police's Property Crimes Unit with assistance from the Tactical Response Unit.
Ballengee faces two counts of criminal damage (ARS 13-1602A1) for incidents that occurred in July and August 2025 near Rural Road and Apache Boulevard.
Over the past several months, detectives received multiple reports of the phrase "Penis Man" spray-painted on buildings in Tempe. Many of the incidents were not captured on video surveillance. Following a detailed investigation, detectives confirmed Ballengee's involvement in two of the cases. Ballengee admitted to committing the graffiti.
Detectives continue to investigate whether he is connected to additional tagging incidents. More charges are expected.
Graffiti is not a harmless act - it costs property owners money, hurts local businesses, and affects the look and feel of our neighborhoods. The Tempe Police Department is committed to protecting our community and holding vandals accountable.
City of Tempe, AZ published this content on September 26, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 26, 2025 at 20:46 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]