Two suspected vandals accused of causing over $10,000 of damage to public and private property in Coachella Valley were out of custody Tuesday.
Deputies from the Palm Desert sheriff’s station responded to the intersection of Monterey Avenue and Verbenia Road in September regarding reports of a wall damaged by graffiti, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
The areas targeted included freeway bridges, electrical boxes, private fences, walls and street signs. Special Enforcement Team personnel executed two search warrants in the 66000 block of 10th Street in Desert Hot Springs and at a residence near Victory Road and Via Merenda in Rancho Mirage.
During the investigation, authorities allegedly recovered about 170 cans of spray paint, over 100 spray paint tips, custom stickers, a graffiti book and over 300 paint markers. Both suspects, identified as 27-year-old Austin Levens of Desert Hot Springs and 23-year-old Jayce Creeden of Rancho Mirage, were arrested Monday at approximately noon and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of vandalism and conspiracy, with bail set at $10,000.
Levens and Creeden were released later that day, according to inmate records, with both scheduled to appear at an arraignment on Jan. 9, 2025 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
“The suspects are believed to be responsible for all the vandalisms that displays the words ONCES, ELEVENS, 11s, and RACHET,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged vandalism was urged to call Rancho Mirage SET Deputy Jacob Paull of the Palm Desert station at 760-393-3220.
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