Caught with graffiti supplies, teen lands himself in jail


Last Updated: March 15, 2007, 06:29:45 AM PDT


One of three people reportedly observed tagging baseball dugouts at Merced High School was arrested by Merced police officers early Wednesday morning following a foot pursuit.
Daniel Toews, 18, was arrested at the 205 W. Olive Ave. campus shortly after midnight. He was charged with graffiti vandalism, possession of an illegal weapon, criminal conspiracy and resisting arrest, according to Cmdr. Tom Martin of the Merced Police Department.

Officers were summoned to the ball field at Merced High School to a report of persons tagging the dugouts. Officer Ron Butler saw three people running from the dugouts.

Martin said two of the three managed to escape but Butler was able to catch Toews on Campus Drive. When he was taken into custody, Butler reported seeing Toews discard a plastic bag containing numerous spray paint can tips. He also dropped a set of metal knuckles commonly called "brass knuckles."

Martin said Toews had fresh paint on his hands and admitted dumping the plastic bag but denied ownership of the metal knuckles.

Toews denied knowing about the two other people who got away. He knew they were "Kons" -- a local criminal tagging crew -- and they had supplied them with the paint that he used to vandalize the dugouts. Officers also located a backpack continuing several cans of spray paint.

Toews was arrested and transported to Merced County Jail where he remains in lieu of $27,000 bail, according to a correctional official. During booking Butler located more spray can tips in Toews' pocket.