Graffiti suspect arrested Thursday for hate crime, vandalism in San Ramon last weekend

By Captain Denton Carlson, San Ramon Police Department

During the morning of Sunday, July 7, 2019, members of the San Ramon Police Department responded to several reports of racially insensitive graffiti in the area surrounding Camino Ramon and Crow Canyon Road. The graffiti was spray-painted on several exterior walls of commercial buildings, as well as on an ATM in the area. Members of our agency and employees from local businesses took immediate steps to remove the graffiti in an attempt to limit the public’s exposure. Based on the initial investigation by our officers, it was apparent the graffiti was spray-painted during the early morning hours on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

On Monday, July 8, 2019, members of the San Ramon Police Department received several high-quality images of the involved suspect, which were taken by the video surveillance camera inside the vandalized ATM located at 2190 Camino Ramon. These images were immediately distributed to local law enforcement agencies in an attempt to identify the suspect. After a few days without any successful identification, we posted the photographs on our social media platforms to try and determine who was responsible for these crimes.

The response from the San Ramon Community was overwhelming. After receiving numerous investigative tips, San Ramon Police Detectives positively identified the suspect as Jacob Leigh, an 18-year-old from San Ramon. Detectives served a search warrant at Leigh’s home during the morning of Thursday, July 11, 2019. Numerous items of evidentiary value associated with the crimes committed were recovered during the search, but Leigh was not at the residence.

During the early afternoon on Thursday, July 11, 2019, Jacob Leigh arranged to turn himself in at the San Ramon Police Department. Detectives placed him under arrest, and he was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for violations of Penal Code 422.6(b) (Hate crime) and multiple violations of Penal Code 594 (Vandalism). His bail was set at $40,000.

The members of the San Ramon Police Department would like to thank the San Ramon Community for their assistance in identifying this suspect. Their commitment to justice, inclusion, and equality shined through based on their obvious displeasure associated with crimes of this nature.

For media-related inquires, please contact Captain Denton Carlson via email at dcarlson@sanramon.ca.gov, or via direct message on Twitter (@srpdcarlson).