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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 Richard Butterworth on May 14, 2012 at 12:46am: God bless you Sandman. That broom sure does look dangerous. Did we really have nothing better to spend tax payer dollars on, than to lock you up with three hots and a cot for five months??? How sad.

Comment by chuck perkins on May 14, 2012 at 7:06am: I drove by and saw him siting on the curb w/two of CPD's finest standing over him. All I could think of was, Oh, not again! I was not aware that a permit was needed to "do art" in Coronado AND what exactly does this mean? I create art with my camera...am I breaking the law too? For a simple man who invokes smiles from tourists and locals alike everywhere his art is groomed, I think a nod of a hat would be more fitting than a citation.

Comment by Brian Smith on May 14, 2012 at 8:14am: The Sandmans art is harmless and brings smiles to all. I'd prefer to see our finest patrolling the biking on the sidewalks of Orange Ave business district.

Comment by Bobby Carter on May 14, 2012 at 9:28am: i suspect the police giving the citation were responding to a complaint from someone. someone from The Shores? i agree with more citations being given to bicycles on sidewalks on Orange.

Comment by Candace Tyler on May 14, 2012 at 9:31am: Is it a question of permit? If so, how much is it?

Comment by Dana S. Chisholm on May 14, 2012 at 9:56am: Our bikes were stolen and car broken into over the weekend...how about the police concentrate on THAT! They cleared out the underground parking of bikes...and no one noticed a truck with all those bikes or something? If the sandman needs a permit - where do we get one for him? How hard can this be? really.

Comment by Nancy Michaels on May 14, 2012 at 10:01am: Too bad..he is doing something he loves, and he isn't bothering anyone. When I see him on Orange, numerous cars honk and wave at him...he brings SMILES to everyone who sees his sand art. He's so friendly to locals and tourists alike....let him be, please.

Comment by Gerin Canin on May 14, 2012 at 10:04am: You know New York has the Naked Cowboy, we have the Sandman. Maybe we should start showing his art ( and that is truly what it is!) in some tourist attracting ads! It's sand for goodness sake! Not spray paint, let the poor man enjoy what he loves so we can all enjoy his creativity!

Comment by Jill Powley Kiefer on May 14, 2012 at 10:05am: We love coming every year to vacation in Coronado and Sandman adds another memoriable part of our summer fun!

Comment by Dana S. Chisholm on May 14, 2012 at 10:15am: That is a great idea! We need to start taking pictures of his art and displaying that to raise money to pay for his permit! :-)

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