An 18-year-old man suspected of committing 15 graffiti attacks in the city of Lake Elsinore -- with a damage estimate of more than $2,400 -- was arrested Friday at a residence in the city.
Gustavo Gutierrez, 18, of Lake Elsinore, was arrested about 9:30 a.m. Friday, following the service of a warrant in the 3000 block of Nashland Street, authorities said.
He was found to be in possession of items linking him to the 15 vandalism instances, a sergeant said.
Gutierrez was targeted by investigators from the Riverside County sheriff's Lake Elsinore station as a purported member of one of the city's most active criminal graffiti groups, according to Sgt. Marc Cloutier.
He was booked into the county jail on suspicion of committing vandalism -- with damages of more than $400 -- and possession of graffiti tools.
Gutierrez remained behind bars in lieu of $5,000 bail, pending arraignment Monday, according to sheriff's jail records.
The tagger's arrest marks one of several in recent weeks. LAlso last month,
Authorities are asking residents with children to keep sharp eyes out for signs their kids may be scrawling graffiti around town.
"Common indicators include paint stains on their child's fingers, angular colorful block writings on their children's walls, notebooks or posters, generally accompanied by nicknames," Cloutier wrote.
To make a request for graffiti removal, call the city's hotline at 951-674-2701, or click here.
Authorities warned residents that city officials try to recover the cost of graffiti removal from the perpetrators or their parents.
