Retired deputy stabbed

A 16-year-old Huntington Beach tagger was in custody Wednesday after stabbing a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy several times, police said.

Retired deputy Ronald Chavers, 42, spotted the teen tagging in the alleyway behind the Petco at 8909 Adams Ave. The suspect stabbed Chavers several times and then fled into the Petco, police said.

Chavers shot at the teen, missing him, Huntington Beach police Lt. Craig Junginger said.

Police, who were first alerted to the alleged attack at 9:52 a.m., found the boy inside the store. As of press time Wednesday afternoon he was expected to be taken to a a juvenile facility.

Chavers was listed in critical but stable condition at UCI Medical Center in Orange, police said.

City officials recently have cracked down on graffiti, maintaining two full-time employees to paint over graffiti as soon as it appears.

Also, after seeing a 250% jump in graffiti vandalism last year, the city began offering $500 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of taggers.