Five people arrested for alleged vandalism, property damage & stolen firearms in Palm Springs
City News Service
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Five people were arrested on suspicion of vandalism, conspiracy and weapons charges after a yearlong investigation into a tagging crew believed responsible for over $10,000 in property damage in the Coachella Valley, authorities said today.
Palm Springs police detectives in coordination with the city’s patrol officers, drone operators and regional partners executed a search warrant operation at five locations in Desert Hot Springs Wednesday to capture the tagging crew known as K2DC, or Kreated to Destroy Cities, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.
The tagging crew were involved in more than 20 incidents throughout Palm Springs and Coachella Valley resulting in upwards of $10,000 in property damage.
Personnel from the Palm Springs Police Department said they recovered five firearms, including two stolen guns and an assault rifle, and numerous graffiti tools.
The suspects were identified as Julian Estrella Miranda, 21, Peter Chavez, 20, Jose Rene Delgado, 34, Joel George Morayla, 20, and Hector Banderas Flores, 29. They were all arrested without incident and booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio on Wednesday. It was unclear where they reside.
Four of the suspect were in custody as of Thursday morning, with bail set at $150,000 each. It was unclear if Flores had posted bail, but he was determined not to be in custody on Thursday.
“This operation reflects our Department’s ongoing commitment to protecting and preserving our community. We will continue to pursue those who damage public and private property, reinforcing the message that graffiti and vandalism will not be tolerated,” the department stated.