Police Seek Suspect in Two Vandalism Cases
Las Cruces police are asking for the public’s help locating the man suspected of causing thousands of dollars in damage on April 24 at a pair of businesses in the Mesquite Historic District.
Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Joel Arciniega Saenz, 25, of the 300 block of Griggs Avenue. Saenz is charged with two counts of criminal damage to property, one count of burglary of a vehicle and one count of non-residential burglary. All four charges are fourth-degree felony counts.
About 5 a.m. Saturday, April 24, Las Cruces police learned that the front windows at Beck’s Roasting House and Creamery, 130 N. Mesquite St., were shattered and someone had entered the business. The inside of the restaurant was vandalized with equipment and merchandise damaged and scattered throughout the businesses.
Investigators also observed a message written in permanent marker on a counter that could be construed as hostile toward homosexuals. Damage to Beck’s was estimated at more than $5,000.
About the same time as the Beck’s burglary was discovered, Las Cruces police learned that four windows at Las Cruces Abstract and Title Company, 119 Campo St., were broken along with three windows to a 2004 Ford F-150 owned by the business. Damage estimates at that business were estimated at $1,760.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video from cameras at Las Cruces Abstract and were able to positively identify Saenz as the suspect.
Saenz is 5-feet-6-inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Joel Arciniega Saenz is asked to immediately call 911 or Las Cruces police at (575) 526-0795.
