MEDIA RELEASE WHAT:

Arrest for Felony Vandalism

WHERE:

City of San Luis Obispo

WHEN:

July 7, 2015

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Lieutenant Jeff Smith 781-7321 Arrested: MEISSNER, Joshua Ryan 26 year old resident of Morro Bay On June 09, 2015 nine banks and two businesses in the City of San Luis Obispo reported having multiple windows being vandalized. During the course of the investigation, round silver ball bearing type balls were found at the crime scenes. Some of the ball bearings were found inside the victim businesses. A San Luis Obispo Police Officer was able to identify a possible suspect vehicle by viewing security surveillance footage from two separate business security cameras. The footage showed a white Ford Ranger pick-up with a green camper shell in the area near the time of each respective occurrence. The damage was estimated to be approximately $20,000.00 for these vandalisms. On July 1, 2015 at about 1:00 am, an alert SLOPD Officer conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford Ranger pick-up with a green camper shell. The Officer identified the driver as Joshua Ryan Meissner out of Morro Bay, who was also the registered owner of the vehicle. There was no probable cause to arrest Meissner at that time and he was released. On July 7, 2015 at about 8:10 am, a suspect driving a white Ford Ranger with a green camper shell stopped in front of the Morro Bay Police Department and shot multiple ball bearings through the front doors and windows of the department. The suspect then drove around to the rear alley and fired additional rounds at a patrol vehicle causing damage to the windshield and frame. At approximately 8:30 am, Morro Bay Officers responded to the Chase Bank in the 500 Block of Morro Bay Blvd. for the report of possible bullet holes in the windows to the front of the bank. When officers arrived they were approached by a citizen who had witnessed the crime. The witness saw the suspect stop in front of the bank, then use a weapon to shoot an object at the bank window. The witness wrote down the vehicle license plate of the suspect’s truck and provided it to police. The witness also provided the description of the suspect as a white male in

his 20’s with a thin build. The truck license plate showed registered to Joshua Meissner in Morro Bay. After receiving this information the Morro Bay Police Department immediately broadcast a teletype BOL for Joshua Meissner. The teletype referenced Meissner was wanted for intentionally shooting out windows at the Morro Bay PD and the Chase Bank using a sling shot. Detectives from the San Luis Obispo Police Department immediately contacted the Morro Bay Police Department and began a joint investigation. A warrant was obtained for the arrest of Meissner based on the evidence obtained. At about 5:30 pm Patrol Officers from the Cuesta College Police Department initiated a traffic stop on Meissner’s vehicle in the area of Foothill and California in the City of San Luis Obispo. Detectives from SLOPD and Morro Bay PD were also there during the traffic stop where Meissner was taken into custody without incident. During a search of Meissner’s vehicle, two high power wrist sling shots and a bag containing approximately 75-100 silver ball bearings were found by Detectives. Meissner was later transported and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail with his bail set at $25,000. Morro Bay Police Chief Amy Christey and San Luis Obispo Acting Police Chief Chris Staley are grateful for their communities having reported the suspicious activity that led to the arrest of the suspect in this case. Chief Christey said "The Department wants to thank our citizens who called in suspect information for the person responsible for the damage at the Police Department and Chase Bank, and encourage all citizens to promptly report any suspicious activity." Along with the PD, Chase Bank, located on Morro Bay Blvd, was also vandalized. Chief Christey said, "I am grateful that the employees who work at Chase Bank were so prompt in reporting this crime as that assisted us greatly with the investigation." Anyone with additional information regarding the arrest of Joshua Meissner please notify the San Luis Obispo Police Department, Morro Bay Police Department, or Crime Stoppers.

Joshua Ryan Meissner

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Prepared by: Lieutenant John Bledsoe DR#: Date/Time: 7-8-15/1400 Typed by: J. Bledsoe