Suspected graffiti vandal is arrested

The Merced Police Department said officers arrested a man long wanted for graffiti crimes in Merced.

Merced Police Department detectives, California Highway Patrol officer Greg Houser and Merced County Probation officer Armando Arceo served a search warrant this week at the North Highway 59 home of Steven Jacot.

Jacot, 22, was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail on six felony charges of vandalism. His bail was set at $60,000.

Part of the evidence found related to Jacot's crimes included photos of sound walls in Merced that have been defaced with painted lettering, according to a news release. The photos show graffiti measuring as high as 8 feet and spanning distances as long as 50 yards along residential sound walls.

During the search of Jacot's house, according to the news release, officers found evidence linking Jacot to numerous graffiti crimes committed in Merced, some recent and some dating to August. Officers found partially empty 5-gallon cans of paint and paint rollers that matched graffiti found on private and public property throughout the community, the news release said.

For several months, Merced Police Detective Allen Adrian had been on Jacot's trail, the release said.

Adrian said he encourages everyone to help eliminate graffiti crime in Merced. Anyone with information about graffiti crimes is asked to call Adrian at (209) 385-4731 or the anonymous tip line at (209) 385-4725.

Anonymous tips can be sent via text by including the keyword "Comvip" in the text message and dialing 847411.

This story was originally published February 5, 2011 at 1:04 AM with the headline "Suspected graffiti vandal is arrested."