Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives arrested a suspect as part of a yearslong graffiti vandalism investigation, officials said Thursday.
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Deputies arrested Isiah Garcia, 23, of Newhall, at a home on the 25200 block of Everett Drive in Santa Clarita.
Detective Jeff Burrow of the station’s Career Offender Burglar, Robbery, Assault, or COBRA unit, which specializes in gang-related crime investigations, led the operation.
COBRA detectives believe Garcia used the graffiti monikers of “RANE” and “KASE” for over five years, allegedly leaving his mark in spray paint, permanent markers, etching tools and adhesive stickers to leave his mark on windows, walls and almost any other stationary object within the Santa Clarita Valley, according to Sheriff’s Station officials.
City of Santa Clarita Graffiti Removal workers recorded and cleaned approximately 750 graffiti incidents allegedly linked to Garcia since 2009.
Business owners have reported numerous additional acts of vandalism that have been etched into their glass windows.
Burrow, who headed the “RANE” investigation, recently learned the suspect’s true identity and investigated with the help of the city’s graffiti abatement coordinator to identify the full extent of the damage done.
During the execution of the search warrant Thursday, detectives said they recovered numerous cans of spray paint, spray paint tips, permanent markers, etching tools, adhesive stickers (slap tags), and other evidence linking Garcia to the names, “RANE” and “KASE.”
Detectives are now asking any property owner, especially within the Santa Clarita Valley, who has not yet reported vandalisms to their property are encouraged to do so by calling Santa Clarita Valley Station at 661-255-1121 and requesting a patrol deputy respond.
The monetary value of the damage “RANE” is alleged to have caused is still under investigation.
No further information is being released at this time.
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