Carson City man arrested on 26 counts of graffiti

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man on more than 25 counts of graffiti around North Carson.

Aaron “Creeper” Hernandez, 22, was arrested Monday morning around midnight near the 3100 block of Imperial Way, after deputies conducted a traffic stop following a tip about a vehicle that had been spotted around one of the graffiti sites. An anonymous tip told officers a gray Nissan Xterra had been spotted around one of the graffiti sites on Imperial Way, and when deputies arrived, they observed a vehicle matching the description leave the area at a high rate of speed. Inside the vehicle, deputies located a blue spray paint can and blue paint on both the occupant’s hands.

Originally, Hernandez was arrested on suspicion of one count of graffiti and probation violation and another 27-year-old male was arrested on one graffiti charge, open container, DUI and revoked driver’s license.

Tuesday, deputies booked Hernandez on an additional 25 counts of graffiti charges and one destruction of property charge after locating other graffiti sites and victims. Deputies discovered tagged areas near Carmine Street and Lompa Lane, Roop Street and Winnie Lane, Imperial Way, Emerson Street, Agate Drive, Retail Drive, South Carson Meadows Drive, Hot Springs Road, Northridge Drive and Russell Way, and Sage Street.

The graffiti all said CLIKA or CLIKA 13 in blue spray paint, a gang tag Hernandez is reportedly a member of. Based on reports and confidential information, deputies filed for a search warrant for Hernandez’s residence at 5 p.m. Tuesday, where they found blue shoes that had the gang identification on them.

The cost to clean the graffiti totals more than $3,500, according to the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Total bail for Hernandez was set at $18,500.