By Khalida Sarwari
An 18-year-old Soquel man suspected of committing more than 41 acts of vandalism in Santa Cruz County was arrested Friday, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies arrested Soquel resident Nathan “Nate” Dickerson following a yearlong investigation that identified Dickerson as a vandal allegedly responsible for $6,000 in damage in the Soquel and Aptos areas of the county, sheriff’s officials said.
Sheriff’s deputies supervised Dickerson and his tagging crew over the last year and believe they are responsible for the damage of park benches and outbuildings at Anna Jean Cummings Park in late July, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for Dickerson’s home, but he was not there at the time and later self-surrendered to deputies.
Dickerson was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on felony vandalism and graffiti charges. He is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail. He had an unrelated warrant for his arrest, sheriff’s officials said.
In addition to the county, victims of the graffiti included private businesses.
The sheriff’s office estimates that vandals cause more than $1 million in damage each year in Santa Cruz County.