Santa Barbara police arrested 23-year-old Cheyne Watkins early Saturday morning for felony vandalism and misdemeanor resisting an officer after he was caught graffiting a green tarp-covered fence downtown.
Two officers were patrolling on the 500 block of Chapala Street when they noticed a citizen pointing them in the direction of 00 West Cota Street. They turned the corner, said SBPD spokesperson Sgt. Riley Harwood, and saw Watkins near the southeast corner of the intersection spray painting along the fence line.
When the officers confronted him, Harwood went on, Watkins fled but was quickly captured. “Investigation revealed that Watkins had defaced approximately 324 square feet of private property fencing,” said Harwood.
He was booked into County Jail with a bail amount of $20,000.