Vandalism suspects nabbed by police

Deepa Bharath

Police arrested two teenagers on Wednesday on suspicion of

spray-painting on church property, officials said.

Costa Mesa officers responded to a call about someone vandalizing

Lighthouse Church in the 800 block of Anaheim Avenue at about 6 p.m.,

Lt. Dale Birney said.

Police arrested 18-year-old Cesar Salgado-Miranda and a

17-year-old boy, both of Costa Mesa. Detectives found the teens near

the church, Birney said.

“The two had spray-painted a dumpster and a cinderblock wall, both

on church property,” he said.

Birney said that this incident did not seem to have a connection

with the gang-related graffiti that police have been dealing with

since early spring.

“This seems to be more of a tagging incident,” he said. “The

writing doesn’t seem to be consistent with any gang activity.”

Salgado-Miranda was charged with vandalizing a place of worship, a

felony, and possessing an instrument with the intent to commit

vandalism, which is a misdemeanor.

“There is no indication that this was a hate crime,” Birney said.

He added that vandalizing a place of worship is a felony or a

serious offense under the state penal code, regardless of the extent

of damage caused.

Lighthouse Church Pastor Dale Fitch said tagging is something that

happens occasionally at the church.

“It happens every now and then,” he said. “It’s not a huge

problem.”

Fitch said that recently they have had some problems with kids

shooting paintballs at the dumpster in front of the church.

He said the church does ministries with the “poor and homeless in

the area.”

“So it’s almost like they protect us,” he said. “We feel quite

safe in this community.”