Las Cruces Police arrested three juveniles following an intentionally-set fire that burned the public restroom facility at Young Park.
Marcus Garcia, 16, Daniel Garcia, 14, and 17-year-old Chris Reed were arrested Friday, Oct. 5, shortly after a fire damaged the restroom facility at Young Park. The fire was reported shortly after 3 a.m. Friday and extinguished by Las Cruces firefighters.
Marcus and Daniel Garcia, who are brothers, are charged with one count each of arson more than $2,500, criminal damage to property and two counts each of conspiracy. Chris Reed, a cousin of the Garcia’s, is charged with one count each of criminal damage to property and conspiracy.
Las Cruces Police detectives learned that the three juveniles stole markers from a nearby Walmart store, and then went on a graffiti spree at Young Park and in a nearby residential neighborhood. Officers located the three at 955 Brook Circle which was next to a vacant home that also had graffiti similar to that found at the park.
Detectives determined that in addition to the graffiti, Marcus and Daniel Garcia ignited toilet paper and threw the burning tissue into a trash can inside the Young Park bathroom. Debris in the trash can caught fire and the blaze quickly spread throughout the building.
The fire was reported to Central Dispatch and Las Cruces firefighters extinguished the blaze, but not before it caused significant damage to the facility.
Investigators from the Las Cruces Fire Department and officials from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department determined that damage to the bathroom facility is beyond repair and the structure will have to be demolished.
Marcus Garcia, Daniel Garcia and Chris Reed are being held without bond in the juvenile wing of the Dona Ana County Detention Center.