Santa Cruz: Police arrest two suspects linked to BLM mural vandalism
Two men have been arrested on felony counts in connection with the alleged vandalism of a Black Lives Matter mural painted on a street in Santa Cruz.
SANTA CRUZ — Two male suspects have been arrested on felony counts in connection with the alleged vandalism of a Black Lives Matter mural painted on a street in Santa Cruz, investigators said Saturday night.
Vehicle tread marks had defaced the street mural in the seaside town in an incident Friday night.
Brandon Bochat, 20, a Santa Cruz resident; and Hagan Warner, 19, a Boulder Creek resident, were arrested in connection with the defacing of the street mural, police said.
The mural is located at 800 Center St. in Santa Cruz, police said.
“Responding officers located the damaged mural, which consisted of vehicle tread marks across the painting,” according to a police statement.
Detectives were able to obtain a video of the incident with help from the community.
“A vehicle is seen intentionally ‘burning out’ and applying tire tread marks across the length of the mural” in the video, police officers said.
The video helped lead police to the suspects whom they arrested.
“Investigators determined that both Bochat and Warner took turns driving the vehicle during the commission of the vandalism,” police said.
Bochat and Warner were arrested on charges of felony vandalism and conspiracy to commit a felony, according to investigators. The two suspects were both booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.
Police believe that the crime isn’t commonplace.
“Investigators are working on this case from the perspective that this is a hate crime,” police said.
The city’s mayor and the police chief both denounced the defacement of the mural.
“We will work to repair the mural and stand in solidarity with our community to oppose hate,” Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Meyers said.
“This type of behavior is unacceptable in our community,” Police Chief Andy Mills said.
The vandalism dismayed Brenda Griffin, local branch president of the NAACP.
“This crime saddens me greatly,” Griffin said. “The NAACP is glad the police have placed a high priority on this investigation. This mural is a symbol of hope.”