A 19-year-old Riverside man suspected of more than two dozen acts of graffiti vandalism throughout the city was free on his own recognizance Wednesday.
William Daniel Mendoza was arrested last week on suspicion of felony vandalism and being in possession of implements to commit vandalism. He was released from the Robert Presley Jail over the weekend.
According to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback, the vandalism occurred between May 2020 and last month.
Railsback said the same moniker was used by the tagger, who targeted 25 different locations. Detectives ultimately identified Mendoza as the perpetrator and obtained a search warrant, which was served at his residence Friday in the 4200 block of Main Street, near University Avenue, according to the police spokesman.
“Their search resulted in finding almost 140 cans of spray paint, drawing books and canvases containing graffiti images and the moniker used by Mendoza, along with various other items with the suspect’s moniker,” Railsback said.
He said a search of the suspect’s vehicle turned up “an additional 39 spray paint cans and items with Mr. Mendoza’s graffiti moniker.”
Mendoza was taken into custody without incident but was released from jail after signing a citation agreeing to appear in court on or after April 28.
He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.