WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man suspected of being a gang member was arrested Tuesday for felony vandalism after allegedly scrawling graffiti on a public mural.
Manuel Gonzalez, 19, was identified as the suspect after investigators recognized his signature graffiti tag on a hand-painted mural at River Park, Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.
The damage was estimated at more than $15,000, she said.
When police and members of the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force served a search warrant at Gonzalez’s residence, they found items linking him to the tagging. They also found an illegally modified handgun, which was easily accessible to a child, Pulido said.
Gonzalez was charged with felony vandalism, child endangerment, participation in a criminal street gang and weapons violation. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail, jail records showed.
