Indio Man Arrested, Suspected In Vandalism Spree

A 29-year-old Indio man suspected of a 10-month tagging and vandalism spree was behind bars today.

Zachary Miles Torres was arrested about 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the 80-900 block of Highway 111, said Benjamin Guitron of the Indio Police Department.

Torres’ jailing came after a 10-month investigation by the department’s Special Enforcement Team, Guitron said. Investigators also recovered undisclosed evidence allegedly tying Torres to the graffiti spree, Guitron said.

Torres was responsible for tagging a variety of businesses and residential area in Indio with a specific graffiti signature linked to him, Guitron said.

The preliminary cost for repairing the damage done by Torres was between $25,000 and $30,000, Guitron said.

Investigators were also seeking other unnamed individuals connected to the tagging spree, Guitron said.

Torres was booked into the Riverside County sheriff’s jail facility in Indio on three felonies — felony vandalism over $1,000, conspiracy to commit a felony, felony violation of probation — and one misdemeanor, possession of graffiti tools.

Torres was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail. He was scheduled to appear in court at the Indio Larson Justice Center on Tuesday for arraignment.