A 15-year-old boy accused of committing at least 90 acts of graffiti around San Diego’s North County has been arrested, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Tuesday.
Deputies from the San Marcos Sheriff’s Station Community Policing Unit took the alleged vandal into custody Friday. Investigators said the teenager is responsible for dozens of graffiti tags in the San Elijo area of San Marcos and in Vista. The graffiti, drawn with black marker, included the suspect’s monikers, identified as “SMILEZ,” “SMILE” and “SMILES.”
In all, the teen’s tags caused approximately $24,000 in damages.
According to investigators, the teenager has ties to a San Marcos street gang. He confessed to his participation in the graffiti while in custody for a prior probation violation, deputies said. The minor’s name was not released.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this graffiti case should contact the sheriff’s department at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
