On February 9, 2021 at approximately 7:45 AM Prescott Police Officers served a search warrant on a residence located in the 800 block of W. Gurley Street. This search warrant was the result of a two-week long investigation regarding multiple incidents of graffiti discovered and reported throughout the City of Prescott.
During the service of the search warrant, 22-year-old Prescott resident, Kane Elias Smith was contacted. Smith was confronted with evidence that had previously been obtained and he admitted to involvement in the offenses.
The Prescott Police Department investigated seven cases of graffiti tags around the City of Prescott where the word “enak” (Kane spelled backwards) was spray-painted in a distinctive style. The City of Prescott Recreation Services Department also discovered another twenty-two tags that were consistent with the tags investigated by members of the Prescott Police Department.
Through a collaborative effort with the Community Services Section, Patrol Bureau, and the Criminal Investigations Section, Smith was identified as the suspect in this case.
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered Smith was arrested for the same type of tagging by the Tempe Police Department in 2017. In total, these incidents resulted in an estimated $1,525.00 in damage on public and private property.
The investigation is ongoing and the Prescott Police Department will continue to evaluate and follow up on evidence that was seized. Smith was booked into the Yavapai County Jail and charged with felony Criminal Damage.
