Police search for suspect spray painting graffiti around Punta Gorda

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — The Punta Gorda Police Department is searching for a man believed to be the one spray painting graffiti across the city. In recent weeks graffiti tags spelling “besh” have been spotted on street signs, walls, utility boxes and other locations typically in downtown. On Feb. 28, the Punta Gorda Police Department released pictures of the suspect behind the “besh” tags, as he was caught on a security camera tagging property at Ace Hardware. Punta Gorda Police Department Graffiti suspect vandalizing property at Ace Hardware. Much of the graffiti is found on the walls and windows of the dilapidated Waterfront Hotel and the fence that surrounds it. “It’s not not their property,” said Eric Burris, Public Information Officer for PGPD. “Street art is fine if you want to do it on your own property I suppose but this is public property that is paid for by the taxpayers and individual peoples property. So, it’s not okay its a crime.” Although the graffiti constitutes misdemeanor crimes, the number of incidents has created a bigger problem. “People didn’t move here to see that written all over traffic boxes and buildings and their private property so its an issue for...