The Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Department (BART PD) has nabbed a suspect they believe is responsible for a string of vandalism cases that damaged parts of three downtown San Francisco stations. Saqueo Delcidmontenegro, 28, a local of the city, was apprehended on a BART train on Tuesday, as confirmed by BART's official news release.
According to BART PD, a keen-eyed Transit Ambassador first spotted Delcidmontenegro on the train, immediately recognizing him from an informational flyer. Alerts were promptly sent out, and the officers managed to intercept the train, culminating in the arrest of Delcidmontenegro.
Since the start of October, at least 29 large glass panels have met their demise at the hands of vandalism. These panels were not merely for show. They formed a critical part of the canopies being constructed to shield the newly installed outdoor escalators at BART’s downtown stations -- a requirement firmly laid out by state law. The destruction has spanned across well-known stations, including Embarcadero, Montgomery, and Powell Street, underpinning a significant investment BART has been directing towards refining the commute of its passengers. As it stands, replacing the damaged infrastructure is expected to be a costly affair, exceeding $500,000.
Delcidmontenegro's alleged actions led to him being booked into the San Francisco County Jail, where he currently faces five counts of felony vandalism.
