Police Arrest Vandal For Tagging Saguaros

July 30, 2013

A teenager has been arrested for vandalizing 16 saguaros and spraying dozens of other tags at Saguaro National Park east of Tucson

The black spray paint was discovered along a 3-mile stretch of the Douglas Spring Trail in May. Tucson police say the 16-year-old boy is also suspected in at least 140 other cases of graffiti throughout Tucson.

"The investigation has been a cooperative investigation between our investigative services branch and our rangers, as well as Tucson PD and the DPS Gang Intelligence Enforcement Mission, so there's actually quite a few agencies that all worked together," said Andy Fisher with Saguaro National Park. "We're glad it's come to a close, but it was really a cooperative effort and so we have to say thanks to them."

The teen was arrested Monday on suspicion of felony vandalism. Efforts to clean the saguaros are ongoing, but so far haven’t been completely successful.