Police Arrest Suspect in April 24 Vandalism Cases
Joel Arciniega Saenz, the 25-year-old man suspected of causing thousands of dollars in damage April 24 at two businesses in the Mesquite Historic District, has been located and arrested.
Las Cruces police located Saenz early Tuesday evening on the 300 block of east Griggs Avenue. Officers arrested him on a warrant obtained by LCPD investigators. 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 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 believed to be about $1,760.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video from cameras at Las Cruces Abstract and were able to positively identify Saenz as the suspect.
Saenz was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.
