Responding to formal charges filed this week by the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office, a 49-year-old man pleaded not guilty Thursday to vandalizing a street mural last year.
Santa Cruz Police have identified 49-year-old Santa Cruz County resident Taj Blum as the scooter-riding, paint-dumping vandal who defaced the "Black Lives Matter" mural in front of Santa Cruz City Hall over the summer. Blum was arrested for felony vandalism but the act is not being considered a hate crime.
Santa Cruz Police have identified 49-year-old Santa Cruz County resident Taj Blum as the scooter-riding, paint-dumping vandal who defaced the "Black Lives Matter" mural in front of Santa Cruz City Hall over the summer. Blum was arrested for felony vandalism but the act is not being considered a hate crime.