Graffiti suspect believed to be linked to 11 incidents arrested

Yuma Police arrested a suspect on Thursday who is believed to be linked to 11 incidents of graffiti after serving a search warrant at his home in the 1600 block of West Colorado Street.

Sergio Zirate, 18, has been booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on charges of criminal damage, possession of graffiti implements, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Yuma police, Zirate is believed to be the person responsible for at least 11 taggings in several areas of Yuma under the names “Lier,” “Skorn,” “Power,” “Pow” and “Ha.,”

Police say Zirate was linked to numerous graffiti incidents occurring in several areas of Yuma with an estimated $925 in property damage.

The City of Yuma implemented the anti-graffiti strategy or T.A.G.S in April 2010. A Graffiti Task Force was formed with the goal of decreasing incidents of graffiti, aggressively pursuing and arresting offenders and cleaning up the city.

The citizens of Yuma can do their part by calling the Graffiti Hotline at (928) 329-2828 or logging onto the City of Yuma website at http://www.ci.yuma.az.us/19227.htm for online reporting of an incident.

The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call Officer Kevin Bynum or the Yuma Police Department Graffiti Task Force at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime to remain anonymous.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.