Suspect Charged for Vandalizing Austin’s Stevie Ray Vaughn Statue

In early February, Austin, Texas’s iconic statue of guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan was vandalized. Well today some closure as a suspect has been arrested and charged by the Austin Police Department.

39-year-old Matthew Rutledge was arrested Friday, February 9 and taken to the Travis County Jail for spray painting the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue on Auditorium Shores on Monday, February 5. 2018.

Austin photographer Mike Holp posted a picture of the graffiti on the statue on his Instagram account, which has prompted dozens of comments from angry Austinites. The statue is located on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake.

According to APD via Fox 7 Austin, witnesses were able to obtain the license plate of the suspect before calling 911. Police officers conducted an investigation before tracking the suspect down at his house. Rutledge has been charged with Class B Misdemeanor Graffiti.