MIDDLETOWN - City Police arrest three men early Saturday morning after an investigation into gang graffiti being sprayed in various locations in the First Ward.

Samuael Delarosa, 20, Antonio Luna, 18, and Gerardo Alonso, 18, were charged with making graffiti and possession of graffiti tools, both misdemeanors. Luna was additionally charged with criminal possession of a weapon for possessing a switchblade knife.

Just after Midnight, Officers Mike McDonald and Patrick Cunningham were dispatched to a report of suspicious persons walking on Fairlawn Ave. The subjects were reported to be wearing dark clothing with masks covering their faces. Officers located the subjects and found them in possession of spray paint and a baseball bat.

An investigation revealed that the subjects spray painted gang graffiti at the corner of Grand Ave and DeWitt Street, Grand Ave and Lincoln St, Fairlawn Ave and Wisner Place and Fairlawn Ave and Gardner Ave in the Town of Wallkill. The subjects indicated to officers that they had were spraying their gangs tag “TVS” in the area.

Middletown Police were assisted by Town of Wallkill Police who will pursue additional charges for the graffiti in the Town of Wallkill. The Middletown Department of Public Works will be notified to remove the graffiti as soon as possible.

All three subjects are being held in the Middletown City lockup pending arraignment in City Court.