A teenager was arrested Friday on suspicion of repeatedly vandalizing an elementary school with graffiti that included racial epithets and swastikas, Chula Vista police said.
The first set of markings was found Aug. 18 on several walls, doors and across a large mural at Enrique Camarena Elementary School on Exploration Falls Drive, police said. The next morning, after parents and school staff spent hours cleaning and covering the graffiti, new and similar writing was found at the front of the campus.
Security measures were implemented, but staff members reported finding more hateful graffiti at the back of the school on Wednesday, police said. The markings, which included racial epithets towards multiple races, were estimated to have caused thousands of dollars in damage.
After an extensive investigation, a 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incidents about 7 p.m. at a local high school football game, police said. Meanwhile, investigators served a search warrant at his Chula Vista home, not far from the elementary school. The teen is facing felony hate crime and vandalism charges.
Chula Vista police said investigators worked with school resource officers, who interviewed residents, students and staff — conversations that eventually led to identifying the teen suspect. Federal authorities and the Anti-Defamation League were also consulted by the Police Department.
“I want the community to know, as a parent myself, I acknowledged their fears and concerns from the onset,” Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy wrote in a news release. “While we couldn’t discuss our specific strategies publicly, my department made finding the person responsible for causing this fear its top priority. These hateful acts are unacceptable, and we will not tolerate behavior like this in our community. I’m thankful to the FBI and members of our local school staff and community for coming together to help us put an end to this quickly.”
Even though an arrest has been made, school resource officers are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
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