LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A 62-year-old Las Vegas man faces a felony vandalism charge after police linked him to the defacement of dozens of political campaign signs across Clark County, an arrest report says.
FOX5 obtained the arrest report for David Lawrence Smith Jr. He was arrested on Monday, Aug. 24, at the Primm Valley Casino on the California-Nevada border. He has been charged with placing graffiti or defacing property over $5,000, a felony under Nevada law. His bail has been set at $3,000.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Counter Terrorism Section says they launched an investigation after receiving reports of red and black swastikas spray-painted over the face of California Governor Gavin Newsom on at least 60 campaign signs. The signs, belonging to the Better Nevada PAC, also depicted Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.
The vandalism occurred across several jurisdictions, including Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson, the report says.
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According to police, a covert surveillance camera captured a suspect defacing a sign near Buffalo Drive and Alta Drive at approximately 8:10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23.
Nearby security footage from an auto shop captured the suspect’s vehicle, a green 2006 Chrysler Town & Country. Police used license plate readers to track the vehicle’s movements, matching its presence to multiple locations where signs had been defaced.
Investigators said they spotted the vehicle crossing back into Nevada from California the next day, leading to Smith’s arrest at the Primm Valley Casino.
The report said a search of Smith’s vehicle yielded 11 spray paint cans, including six black and five red. Detectives said they also recovered a Walmart receipt from Barstow, California, dated Aug. 24 at 3:32 p.m., showing the purchase of red and black spray paint cans.
According to the arrest report, the Better Nevada PAC estimated the total property damage and replacement labor costs at $6,373.43, which includes $4,573.43 for printing and $1,800 for labor.
During police questioning, the report says Smith denied spray-painting the signs, claiming he bought the paint to customize his vehicle’s wheels. However, police noted in the arrest report that Smith admitted to reading the fine print on the signs and launched into extensive, hate-filled tirades against Newsom and Democrats.
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