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Police: Elgin teen caused more than $7,200 in damage

Police arrested a teenager believed to have been behind a graffiti spree that caused more than $7,200 in damage throughout Elgin, according to a news release.

Armando Cazares, 19, of the 600 block of Cooper Avenue faces a felony charge of criminal defacement of property, a misdemeanor charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and a misdemeanor charge of obstructing identification.

An Elgin police officer was patrolling the area near Cooper Street and Dundee Avenue around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when he saw Cazares acting suspiciously, police said. He also observed fresh graffiti with a unique moniker on a street sign and garbage can.

Cazares initially provided a false name, but the officer later identified him correctly, police said.

Detectives later linked Cazares to more than 150 items — including street signs, buildings, light poles, sidewalks and brick walls — that had been tagged throughout the city between December 2011 and April 2013, police said. He remains in custody at the Elgin Police Department.

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