Crime & Safety

Alleged IB Tagger Arrested For $30,000 in Damages

A 23-year-old Imperial Beach man was arrested Friday in connection to dozens of graffiti incidences.

An Imperial Beach man was jailed today on suspicion of scores of tagging offenses that resulted in roughly $30,000 worth of property damage.

Deputies arrested Joey Martinez after serving a search warrant at his Granger Street home, said San Diego County Sheriff's Sgt. Ted Greenwald. Numerous examples of Martinez’s tagging were recovered from his residence, according to the sheriff’s department. Martinez admitted that the tagging was his work and he was booked into San Diego Central Jail.

Martinez, who turned 23 today, allegedly is responsible for at least 72 graffiti crimes, 19 of them felonies and the others misdemeanors, according to Greenawald.

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“Martinez was identified as a member of a South Bay tagging crew,” the sergeant said.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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