Two arrested for alleged gang graffiti

By Jennifer Turner

Staff Writer

Rogers police arrested two men late last week resulting in what they hope will be the end to an 18-month barrage of gang graffiti on the city.

Police arrested Luis Hernandez, 19, Thursday at St. Mary's Hospital and Javier Rueda, 18, Saturday at his home in Rogers, Rogers Police Cpl. Kelley Cradduck said Sunday.

Both men were charged with felony criminal mischief for spray painting graffiti on more than 20 public and private properties in Rogers, accounting for more than 80 percent of major graffiti in the city.

Rueda was charged as a juvenile because he was 17 when most of the spray painting was done.

"In my 10-plus years in police work, I can't remember (an arrest) that was more important to us," Cradduck said. "These individuals have absolutely torn up our city."

Police treated the string of related vandalisms as one felony, rather than separate misdemeanors.

Cradduck said police consider the vandalism to be gang graffiti.

"Not every person who spray paints graffiti is a gang member," he said. "But that is a sign and a symptom of gang activity."

Police suspect the men were likely communicating with other gang members in the area. "Welcome Fort Worth" and "Welcome Cali" were messages welcoming particular people to Rogers, Cradduck said. Other graffiti marks included nicknames and symbols. "Sins" was marked
repeatedly, which Cradduck said is a nickname for Hernandez, who has the letters tattooed on his body.

The arrest of Hernandez came after he and another man crashed a stolen black Cadillac at the intersection of South First Street and New Hope Road. Hernandez suffered a broken back. That arrest led to the arrest of Rueda.

Cradduck said police have been looking for the men for months, after interviews with community members linked them to the crimes.