Writing on the wall
Business owner fed up with graffiti

Carlos Garcia stares at the freshly painted graffiti on the back of his restaurant Tuesday morning in Gallup. Garcia said that his business, Garcia's Sunset Grill, has been tagged two nights in a row. [photo by Jeff Jones / Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — Restaurant owner Carlos Garcia said vandals have targeted his business twice within a two-day’s time span.

Garcia arrived at Garcia’s Sunset Cafe, 1605 W. U.S. Highway 66, Monday at 7 a.m. to find his business’ back wall defaced with graffiti. The red painted letters cover the length of the 24-foot long wall.

Garcia said the vandals first struck between 3 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday and then another group returned Monday night to make alterations to the phrases painted on the wall. He suspects two rival groups were involved in the tagging.

“It seems like a different group was involved the second time,” Garcia said.

Garcia said this week’s crime isn’t the first time he and his business have been victimized. In 2001, a 17-year-old was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at the business.

Garcia said he chased the teenager in his vehicle along U.S. 66 to an intersection near Ellis Tanner’s Trading Co.

Garcia said he was not pleased with the outcome of the case that resulted in probation for the alleged offender.

“I risked my life to catch that kid,” he said.

Garcia said he is tired of the repeated offenses and wants the police to increase their patrols in the area.

“They’re supposed to protect me and my business,” Garcia said.

He also plans to keep a close eye on the restaurant.

“I’m going to do something to make sure they don’t come back,” Garcia said.

Deputy Police Chief John Allen, of the Gallup Police Department, advised business owners to notify metropolitan dispatch immediately, if a building is tagged with graffiti. The agency will contact city of Gallup employees who will then paint over the graffiti to prevent additional exposure. If the vandalism occurred on private property, the business owner will be asked to sign a release form before the city can repaint.

“We find graffiti attracts more graffiti,” Allen said of the importance of painting over the words as soon as possible.
He said the spring and summer months are when officers see the most graffiti in Gallup.