Gilroy police have been busy fighting graffiti in the past
month, making seven arrests in 16 days.
Gilroy police have been busy fighting graffiti in the past month, making seven arrests in 16 days.
The arrests began on March 31 and ran through Wednesday, resulting in police nabbing six juveniles and an 19-year-old for various charges, including vandalism, police said. Police estimated that the seven teens have cause several thousand dollars in damage and cleanup, though exact costs were not available as of Monday.
The first arrests were of two 17-year-olds at 11:24 p.m. March 31 on the 1000 block of Byers Street, police said. The teens were using stickers with graffiti on them and felt-tipped markers to mark light poles when they were spotted by a resident, who called police. The two teens were arrested for conspiracy to commit vandalism, felony vandalism – in which more than $400 in damages is done – and possession of graffiti implements.
During a follow-up investigation, Anti-Crime Team Graffiti Investigator Hugo Del Moral connected one of the teens to 120 additional counts of vandalism within Gilroy, police said. The cleanup will likely costs several thousand dollars, police said.
On April 1, David Anthony Dimas, 19, and a 15-year-old were arrested behind the Hecker Pass Plaza shopping center on the 1300 block of First Street, police said. The teens were using spray paint the shopping center walls. The teens were arrested for vandalism and conspiracy to commit vandalism, and Dimas was also arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
During the follow up investigation, the 15-year-old was also arrested in connection with vandalism incidents at 7933 Wren Ave., 7681 Monterey St. and El Roble Park.
Then, at 9:06 p.m. April 8, a resident called police to report suspicious people at El Roble Elementary School, police said. Police found several juveniles on the campus and arrested one 17-year-old male for tagging water fountain with a marker. The 17-year-old is also being investigated for possible connection to other vandalism incidents, police said.
At 8:04 two days later, a police officer saw a 16-year-old using a marker to tag a utility box near the intersection of Camino Arroyo and East Sixth Street, police said. The teen ran from the scene, but police caught up to the teen and arrested him for vandalism.
Finally, at 10:49 p.m. Wednesday, police were contacted about a male harassing a female in Las Animas Veterans Park, 350 Mantelli Drive, police said. Police arrived to find six juveniles, graffiti implements and tagging on one of the picnic tables. Police arrested a 17-year-old for vandalism and possession of graffiti implements.
Anyone with information on vandalism can contact Del Moral at 846-0384.
