Prolific Graffiti Tagger Arrested

In early July 2025, the Santa Rosa Police Department Property Crimes Investigations (PCI) Team began an investigation into a prolific tagger.  Detectives reviewed areas where extensive graffiti had occurred and began investigating the nature, timeline, and damages associated to several Sonoma County locations.  Those locations included The Santa Rosa Plaza mall parking garage, Sierra Meadows Park located at Rubicon Way and Stanislaus Drive in Santa Rosa, and the Forest Hills-Hacienda Bridge located in Forestville. The total estimated damage of the three locations was determined to be approximately $10,000.

As part of the investigation, PCI detectives authored search warrants for two Snapchat social media accounts.  Those search warrants revealed significant digital evidence including videos and images of vandalism occurring and details to clearly identify the account users.  PCI identified the primary tagger as 23-year-old Santa Rosa resident Fabian Manriquez Lopez.  The evidence revealed a second suspect who participated in the vandalism and filming of the acts; 20-year-old Santa Rosa resident Alexis Smith. 

On August 21, 2025, PCI detectives completed surveillance of both Smith and Lopez’s homes and places of work.  At approximately 4:30 p.m. Detectives contacted and arrested Lopez as he was walking in the area of Commerce Boulevard and Enterprise Drive in Rohnert Park.  At approximately 5:00 p.m., Detectives contacted and arrested Smith at her residence in the 600-block of Clover Drive in Santa Rosa.

Both Smith and Lopez were booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility for the following violations;
Penal Code § 594(a)(1) Vandalism – Defaces with Graffiti
Penal Code § 182(a)(1) Conspiracy
Penal Code § 12022.65 Act in Concert w/ 2+ Persons

While some graffiti vandalism is committed for the purpose of gang affiliation or territorial marking, a growing trend among individuals is to commit graffiti as a form of personal expression or self-promotion. This form of graffiti is not random; it is intentional, stylized, and designed to gain recognition within graffiti and social media communities.

Despite the artistic intent, this type of graffiti is in violation of Penal Code § 594 (deface property) and causes significant damage. Public infrastructure, small businesses, and residential properties are frequently targeted, leaving property owners with the responsibility and financial burden of removing or painting over the vandalism. Many surfaces require professional cleaning services or sandblasting, especially when spray paint is applied to porous materials like brick or concrete.

In recent years, platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok have become central to how offenders document and promote their work. These individuals often record themselves actively committing graffiti vandalism or pose in front of freshly painted pieces to demonstrate their skill and show off their work.
SRPD case #25-8501
Media Contact:
Sgt. Ryan Hepp
rhepp@srcity.org