Police arrest man suspected of vandalizing popular SLO sandwich shops
An unhoused San Luis Obispo resident was arrested Tuesday for allegedly vandalizing High Street Deli.
On Tuesday, San Luis Obispo Police Department officers were dispatched to High Street Deli for a report of vandalism, finding “extensive vandalism” throughout the outdoor patio of the business, according to a news release from the department.
Surveillance camera footage provided by the business showed 42-year-old San Luis Obispo resident Benjamin Weldon using a blue marker to write on patio furniture, causing damage in excess of $7,000, according to the release.
Officers received a second report of similar vandalism at Lincoln Deli later that day, in that case to the tune of around $1,000, according to the release.
Weldon, who also uses the moniker “Gucci $killet,” was arrested near downtown San Luis Obispo at 11:15 p.m. later that day, according to the release.
Most of the writing was able to be washed off the wooden bar and other tables before opening at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, High Street Deli owner Randy “Doobie” Coates said.
However, the vandalism on a red vintage restaurant sign from his great-grandparent’s hotel, the Gibson House, that hung outdoors would have to be professionally cleaned, Coates said.
“I’ll probably have to get a guy to come sand everything down,” Coates said. “It sucks because we just did that.”
