Suspected Teen Taggers Arrested In Watsonville

Police arrested two juveniles on suspicion of vandalism on Thursday in Watsonville, police said today.

Police said the downtown area has been plagued by an increase of graffiti appearing on the walls of local businesses over the past several weeks.

On Thursday, at around 1 a.m., a motorist told police there were two men spray-painting graffiti on the walls of a business in the area of Main and W. Beach streets, police said.

The officers drove to the area and saw two male teenagers walking across W. Beach Street. When the officers tried to stop the teens, the pair immediately ran away, police said.

Officers caught up with the juveniles a short distance later and found several spray cans with modified spray tips that police say are commonly used by graffiti artists.

Both juveniles had paint on their clothing and hands, police said.

The officers canvassed the area and said they found 30 freshly painted graffiti “tags,” or designs, on nine different businesses in the area.

Police arrested the teens on suspicion of felony vandalism charges, possessing vandalism tools as a minor and resisting or obstructing an arrest.

They were booked in the Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall in Felton, police said.

Police asked anyone with information about the incidents to call investigators at (831) 768-3350.

--Bay City News