New Jersey Man Arrested for SF Picasso Sketch Theft

A 30-year-old New Jersey restaurant beverage manager was arrested on Thursday in connection with the Picasso drawing that was stolen from a Union Square art gallery.

The 1965 pencil drawing, Tete de Femme, which is valued at $275,000 was taken from the wall of the Weinstein Gallery on Tuesday morning when a man walked through the entrance, took the drawing off the wall and left in a waiting car, witnesses said.

Police on Thursday arrested Mark Lugo, 30, of New Jersey on charges of burglary, grand theft, possession of stolen property and possession of narcotics.

Lugo was arrested at a hotel in Napa, Calif., at 9.30 p.m. where the missing Picasso sketch was recovered, police said.

The frame of the sketch was removed but the sketch remains undamaged, authorities said.

Lugo was arrested with the help of two surveillance videos and other tips.

The first video came from a restaurant on the block, Lefty O'Douls, and showed a man matching police and witnesses' descriptions carrying a framed piece of art, ABC reported.

According to police, the frame size 10.5 by 8.5 inches appeared to be the same dimensions as the stolen Picasso.

The cab driver told police that he dropped the suspect off at a hotel in San Francisco.

Lugo's bail is set at $5 million.