Suspected Vandals Accused of Sling Shotting Pellets at Bus

Marin Sheriff’s deputies arrested two people on suspicion of vandalism after a Golden Gate Bus had two windows shot out early Saturday morning, according to San Rafael Police spokeswoman Lisa Holton.

Novato resident Kelsie Niemetz, 20, and San Rafael resident Pablo Benavides Cardenas, 18, were booked at Marin County Jail on three counts of felony vandalism and one count of throwing an object at a vehicle. Two additional suspects from San Anselmo and Sausalito, both 16 years old, were also cited and released to their parents.

At approximately 12:24 a.m. on Oct. 6, a Golden Gate Transit bus driver reported that two windows of his bus had been shot out as he was turning from Grand Avenue onto Third Street in San Rafael. The driver saw a black Honda Civic on the left side of the bus, and said he noticed an unknown object in one of the passenger’s hand. Soon after, he heard a noise and two of the windows on the left side of the bus were shattered, according to Holton.

The driver provided a description of the car as well at its license plate, which was broadcast to all officers in Marin. Around 15 minutes later, a Marin County Sheriff’s sergeant saw the car on East Francisco Boulevard and stopped the vehicle on Fairfax Street.

“Evidence linking the occupants to the crime was located inside the car and the two suspects were detained,” Holton said.

The investigation revealed that the suspects, along with the two minors, fired pellets from sling shots at the bus. They targeted pedestrians, businesses and moving vehicles from Contra Costa County to Marin County, according to Holton.

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