Morro Bay Resident Arrested in Connection With SLO Vandalism Case

San Luis Obispo Police arrested 26-year-old Joshua Ryan Meissner of Morro Bay, in connection with a vandalism investigation that covered multiple locations.

Through surveillance video, police were able to identify Meissner as the suspect in the vandalism spree, which police said affected nine banks and two businesses in the city of San Luis Obispo. In each case, multiple windows were smashed.

Investigators found round silver ball bearing type objects at the crime scenes, some of those inside victim businesses.

Security cameras caught a white Ford Rancher pickup truck with a green camper shell in the area near the time of the crimes.

On July 1st, at about 1 a.m., a SLO police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that matched the description seen in the surveillance video. The driver of that vehicle was quickly identified as Meissner, however, police said that there was no probable cause to arrest Meissner at that time, and he was released.

Six days later, on July 7, the white pickup with the green camper shell stopped in front of the Morro Bay Police Department at about 8:10 a.m. Meissner allegedly shot multiple ball bearings through the front doors and windows of the police department before driving around to the rear alley and firing additional rounds at a patrol vehicle. The patrol vehicle sustained damage to the windshield and frame.

Meissner then allegedly shot at windows of the Chase Bank in the 500 block of Morro Bay Boulevard soon after the Morro Bay Police Department vandalism incident. Later that afternoon, detectives from the SLO Police Department and Morro Bay Police Department took Meissner into custody following a traffic stop.

Investigators said that they found two high power wrist sling shots and a bag containing 75 to 100 silver ball bearings, while conducting a search of Meissner’s pickup.

The vandalism damages were estimated to be approximately $20,000.

Meissner was transported and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail with bail set at $25,000.