Arrests Made In Sonoma County Gang Graffiti Spraying: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Police arrested two juveniles Wednesday evening in Santa Rosa for allegedly spray-painting gang graffiti, police said. One was also charged with marijuana possession and resisting arrest.

At 7:50 p.m. on April 5, a caller to Santa Rosa police reported a group of people on the Prince Memorial Greenway trail who were allegedly spray-painting graffiti as they walked along the pathway.

According to police, officers arrived and searched for the suspects in the area of Orange Street and Buckingham Drive, where they heard someone shaking a paint can.

Officers walked toward the noise and saw a 16-tear-old boy spray-painting a fence. The suspect was wearing a blue bandana wrapped around the lower part of his face, police said.

When the suspect saw the officers, he threw the paint can down and fled, police said. The officer chased and caught the suspect and took him into custody.

An officer then located another 17-year-old male suspect allegedly fleeing the area. The officer chased the suspect and soon caught and detained him.

When officers checked the area where the suspect was seen spray-painting, they found fresh graffiti consistent with the Sureno criminal street gang. Officers say they found more graffiti near the U.S. Highway 101 overpass and the Prince Memorial Greenway.

Both suspects were taken to juvenile hall, with the 16-year-old suspect booked on suspicion of vandalism, and the 17-year-old booked on suspicion of vandalism, resisting and obstructing an officer, and possession of marijuana, police said. Their names are not being released because they are minors.

Police ask anyone who witnesses criminal activity to call police at (707) 528-5222. Anonymous tips about gang activity can also be called to (707) 543-4264.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock