Full Notification

Andrew Edward Schmeuszer, age 22, of Goleta, was arrested for vandalism, possession of vandalism tools, and resisting or delaying an officer after he was observed tagging a portion of the Hotel Santa Barbara and led an officer on a brief foot pursuit.

On April 9, 2013 at 10:04 p.m., SBPD Officer Brian Sathre responded to assist other officers on a call of a disturbance to the front of a bar on the 500 block of State Street.  Upon arrival Officer Sathre was informed by the officers already on-scene that one of the involved parties in the disturbance had fled westbound on the 00 block of W. Haley Street.  Officer Sathre proceeded to search the area and observed a subject matching the description of the subject involved in the disturbance on the 00 block of W. Cota Street.  While observing that subject, Schmeuszer, Officer Sathre saw him produce a paint marker from his belongings and use it to commit a graffiti vandalism to the door of a shed belonging to the Hotel Santa Barbara.  When Officer Sathre attempted to contact Schmeuszer he fled, running into the parking lot of the hotel and jumping onto a large electrical box, apparently looking for the means to climb to one of the upper floors of the hotel or onto the roof of the adjacent business.  When Schmeuszer saw that he was unable to do this he jumped back down into the hotel parking lot and continued to run away, however surrendered after being cornered by Officer Sathre in the fenced lot.

Additional freshly painted graffiti, consisting of a tagging moniker, was located on the Fig Avenue side of the hotel.  Schmeuszer’s hands were wet with paint and in his belongings were found several other paint and permanent ink markers.

Schmeuszer was arrested for the aforementioned misdemeanors and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail with a bail amount of $2,500.00.  Photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.