Teenage graffiti vandal caught red handed

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — In an unusual turn of circumstance, Investigator Merle Bates with McKinley County Sheriff’s Department happened on an 18-year-old graffiti vandal Tuesday near 808 E. 66 Ave.

According to the incident report, Bates had parked to go inside Southwest Jewelers Supply & Pawn when he saw an 18-year-old boy, later identified as Alexander Pinto, walk up to a public light pole and use a marker to draw esoteric symbols — graffiti. Bates chased Pinto on foot until the boy jumped a fence, landing in the back yard of residents at 813 E. Aztec Ave.

Bates notified patrol officers of the boy’s description. A few minutes later, Deputies Merlin Benally and Delfred Murphy found Pinto behind Long John Silvers at 1514 E. 66 Ave.

Pinto was later found to be intoxicated, and had in his pockets when he was arrested a bottle of vodka and two permanent markers. He also had “piece of paper folded up with a small amount of a green leafy substance,” according to the incident report.

Bates arrested Pinto on one count of unauthorized graffiti, one count of marijuana possession and for being a minor in possession of alcohol — all misdemeanors.

Reporter Phil Stake can be reached
at philip.stake@gmail.com, or by calling
(505) 863-6811 x223.