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Sandman Leaves Message in Art for Police After Receiving Another Ticket(Photos)

Alberto Avila, commonly known as the Sandman, displays his most recent ticket he received from a Coronado Police Officer for not having a proper permit to do his art. The Sandman reports he has been given about one dozen tickets, for all of which he shows up in court and they have been dismissed.

A drawing the Sandman created today in response to his recent ticket:

His message reads: "J. Gutzmer New Coronado's Lady Police Wants to Stop Sandman's Art"

This photo was taken earlier in the week with a similar message:

The Sandman has had an on-again-off-again relationship with the Coronado community since he first arrived in 2006. He made his most recent return to Coronado earlier this year after spending 5 months in jail.

Happy Mother's Day from the Sandman!

Tags: community, people

6 members like this

Comment by Dana S. Chisholm on May 14, 2012 at 1:40pm: They cited him on Municipal Code 52.04.010 - which requires a permit for construction on Coronado streets. The "permit" required for that code would have come through Coronado Public Services - which doesn't fit as all. Chalk art and sand art should be going through the Recreation Department. Soooo, what we need to do is contact the Mayor and City Council to change the code so this police office understands his sand is not "construction" :-) The police department is a little defensive right now...but, I think this is an easy fix the City Council can make before people get too upset about sand/art/smiles... this kind of harassing a sand artist will just make our city look bad! No one wants that! Email the Mayor and City Council and tell them to fix the Code ASAP! :-) So, the police can move on to patrolling and recovering my things from our robbery Sunday morning!!! Focus, people! We were robbed on Mother's Day...I'd like this Sandman thing fixed so they can leave him alone and FOCUS on Coronado residents not being robbed, please! how about THAT!?

Comment by JAESON GOMEZ on May 14, 2012 at 3:40pm: Come really!!!!! do the Coronado cops really have nothing better to do than harrase the sandman. I think donoughts are served at 6AM at Claytons with coffee. We should get sandman a pot put money in it and get his permitt or we should all go to work with him in front of the police station.

Comment by chuck perkins on May 14, 2012 at 4:54pm: Just saw him on my way home waving at the folks coming out of North Island & down Orange. Amazing how many people were waving back & honking their horns. Felt like small town America for a minute...a good thing.

Comment by Bruce Johnson on May 14, 2012 at 5:14pm: This reflects very poorly on Coronado. This man makes us look good and what do we do in response?!??

Almost everyone loves him and supports him. IMHO he is a civic treasure and should be treated as such.

Comment by Christine Duryea on May 14, 2012 at 7:10pm: I Agee with everyone. Leave the Sandman alone. I think he is classic and talented. Harmless. If we stilled owned Du-rays Surshop I would have him out front every day. I am glad at least the courts have sense and throw out the tickets. He also carries his broom and dust pan to clean up. Leave him alone!!!

Comment by Christine Duryea on May 14, 2012 at 7:10pm: I Agee with everyone. Leave the Sandman alone. I think he is classic and talented. Harmless. If we stilled owned Du-rays Surshop I would have him out front every day. I am glad at least the courts have sense and throw out the tickets. He also carries his broom and dust pan to clean up. Leave him alone!!!

Comment by Christine Duryea on May 14, 2012 at 7:10pm: I Agee with everyone. Leave the Sandman alone. I think he is classic and talented. Harmless. If we stilled owned Du-rays Surshop I would have him out front every day. I am glad at least the courts have sense and throw out the tickets. He also carries his broom and dust pan to clean up. Leave him alone!!!

Comment by Kelley Kraft Casey on May 14, 2012 at 7:18pm: So how is sand, which is largely already in the road and everywhere else in Coronado, considered "construction"? It's like someone had to look hard to find a code that sort of fit the issue in order to cite him for something. It's not permanent. It's sand. It doesn't impede traffic. It's not hazardous material.

It doesn't seem like it's the code that needs fixing, it's the interpretation of the code and how it's being enforced with regard to the Sandman that is the issue. Changing muni codes is difficult and involved. Telling law enforcement to give the Sandman a break seems an easier fix.

Comment by Marie-Rose Skifter on May 15, 2012 at 7:12am: Totally agree with comments above; police look for the ones that are really breaking the law. Isabella Ave is speed heaven for those cutting to the beach and doing donuts on the wider part of Isabella.
Sandman is harmless!

Comment by Kim Moreno on May 15, 2012 at 8:28am: I had a long conversation w. Sandman the other day (hard to keep it short with him...) He's always the same guy, very talented, very spiritual and very feisty. Our "peace" officers seem to be injected with testerone and looking for confrontation and he regrettably provides it to them. He created a sweet Mom's Day message for the Love of my Life. Thanks, Sandman!