An 18-year-old has been arrested following a string of vandalism in Twentynine Palms. In August of this year, Deputies in Twentynine Palms responded to several reports of graffiti throughout the city. The graffiti was on city buildings, including the Parks and Recreation building and Luckie Park. The suspect vandalized the walls, vehicles, skatepark, playground equipment, and sidewalks with racial slurs.
On Wednesday, (November 10), Deputies responded to Knott Sky Park in Twentynine Palms for a report of a male subject at the location affixing graffiti throughout the park. Arriving deputies contacted Thomas Metcalf, 18 of Twentynine Palms, and observed graffiti throughout the Knott Sky Park and dog park. The deputy believed the vandalism was consistent, in nature, with the graffiti at Luckie Park from August 2021. The total cost to remove the graffiti affixed throughout the city from August of 2021 to the most recent on November 10, was over $5,500.
Detectives from the Morongo Basin Station responded and assisted with the investigation and determined that based on the totality of the investigation, deputies arrested Metcalf for felony vandalism, in connection to the vandalisms to Twentynine Palms city property from, August 2021 to November 10, 2021. Thomas Metcalf was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail, with his bail set at $25,000.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Detective Ables or Deputy Singh at 760-366-4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME ( 27463) or you may leave the information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.
