Las Cruces man arrested in coffee house destruction case

UPDATE, May 12: A 25-year-old Las Cruces man sought by police for allegedly causing thousands of dollars in vandalism damage last month to businesses in the Mesquite Historic District, including a popular coffee house, has now been taken into custody.

Police announced the arrest of Joel Arciniega Saenz on Wednesday. He was being held in the Dona Ana County jail without bond pending a court appearance.

Saenz is charged with multiple felonies including two counts of criminal damage to property, one count of burglary of a vehicle and one count of non-residential burglary.

A warrant for his arrest had been issued earlier this month after police said they identified him from surveillance video as the suspect who broke into and vandalized Beck’s Roasting House and Creamery and Las Cruces Abstract and Title Company.

UPDATE, May 5: An arrest warrant has been issued for a 25-year-old Las Cruces man accused of causing thousands of dollars in vandalism damage last month to businesses in the Mesquite Historic District, including a popular coffee house, police announced Wednesday.

Authorities said they were seeking the public's help to find the suspect, identified as Joel Arciniega Saenz, who is wanted on felony charges including criminal property damage, vehicle burglary and non-residential burglary.

The businesses targeted were Beck’s Roasting House and Creamery, which suffered over $5,000 damage, and Las Cruces Abstract and Title Company, which had $1,700 in damage. Police didn't indicate a motive, although they said there was "a message written in permanent marker on a counter (at Beck's) that could be construed as hostile toward homosexuals."

Saenz is described by authorities as 5-feet-6-inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, and they asked anyone who spots him to immediately call 911 or Las Cruces police at (575) 526-0795.

ORIGINAL REPORT, April 24: LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- A Las Cruces coffee house was broken into by vandals and completely trashed overnight, according to the business owners.

Beck’s Roasting House and Creamery at 130 North Mesquite Street posted photos of the destruction on social media Saturday.

"Windows were shattered, everything that could be destroyed was destroyed. Obviously, we are in shock and trying to keep it together so we can clean and figure out what to do next," Beck's wrote in a message that accompanied the photos.

The business didn't provide a dollar estimate on the extensive damage shown to their facility, and there was no word of any arrests so far by police.

Beck's indicated while their Roasting House would be closed until further notice, their Main Street location remained in operation.