UPDATE: San Marcos Drug Detective Identifies Enchanted Rock Vandalism Suspects
A San Marcos Police detective identified the suspects in the March 20 Enchanted Rock vandalism case that made national news when he recognized the nicknames scrawled on the side of the ancient landmark.
The nicknames, “Ca$h” and “Truck,” belong to San Marcos residents Meredith Baird, 21, and Charles Agawereh, 24.
Agawereh had been arrested Jan. 15, 2016 on charges of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), a first-degree felony.
Baird was not present during the execution of the Jan. 15 search and arrest warrant of her and Agawereh’s apartment, but detectives found papers with the nickname “Ca$h” that was linked to Baird. Agawereh’s nickname “Truck” was already known to police.
The San Marcos Police detective shared the information with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and state and local agencies started building a case.
Agawereh and Baird were arrested Wednesday, April 6 when Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement officials, working in a joint operation with San Marcos Police Department and the Hays County Narcotics Task Force, executed a search warrant at a San Marcos apartment that the Agawereh and Baird share.
Both face state felony graffiti charges and face up to two years in state jail and up to a $10,000 fine if convicted.
They also face narcotics charges for possession of marijuana, amphetamine pills, and ecstasy found in the apartment. The narcotics charges range from a Class B misdemeanor for the marijuana to a state jail felony for the ecstasy and a second degree felony for the amphetamine.
Pair Facing State Jail Felony Charges Stemming from Graffiti on Iconic Enchanted Rock
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Law enforcement officials from the State Park Police, Texas Game Wardens and San Marcos Police Department Wednesday April 6th, arrested two individuals in connection with defacing of the iconic Enchanted Rock.
National media attention surrounding an image in a Facebook post showing two individuals standing near the vandalized Texas natural landmark helped lead state and local investigators to an arrest on several violations, including state jail felony graffiti and drug-related charges.
Charles Agawereh, 24, and Meredith Baird, 21, both of San Marcos, have been taken into custody and booked into the Hays County Jail. The pair is accused of painting graffiti on the south face of the summit at Enchanted Rock State Park near Fredericksburg. The massive pink granite dome rising above Central Texas has drawn people for thousands of years.
The incident occurred March 20 and a photograph of the suspects standing in front of the graffiti placed on social media eventually led to information identifying both individuals.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement officials, including State Park Police and State Game Wardens from the Criminal Investigations Division and Tactical Operations K9 Unit and Scout Team, worked in conjunction with San Marcos Police Department and the Hays County Narcotics Task Force on the investigation.
Additional charges are pending as a result the arrest and search warrant execution.
