2nd Boy Arrested In Alleged Riverside County Hate Crime: RSO

ANZA, CA — A second teen was arrested this week in connection with racist graffiti found earlier this month at an Anza elementary school, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The 16-year-old boy, whose identity was not released to due his age, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon at a business in the 57400 block of Mitchell Road in Anza, the department reported.

He was transported to Southwest juvenile hall and booked on suspicion of a hate crime — criminal threats of violence — as well as vandalism. He was being held on $100,000 bail, according to the department.

An investigation into the incident began around 7:21 a.m. April 5 when deputies from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station were called to Hamilton Elementary School at 57550 Mitchell Road regarding a report of racist graffiti on school grounds and on a nearby road.

The campus was on spring break, but some school administrators showed up for work that morning. Additionally, a handful of students were on campus for a learning opportunity, according to the sheriff's department.

Investigators were able to obtain surveillance video showing three suspects tagging the campus around 10:30 p.m. April 4, the department reported.

Based on leads, investigators also identified a 17-year-old boy as a suspect, and he was arrested April 10 in Ventura. He was transferred to Riverside juvenile hall and booked on suspicion of the same charges as his alleged cohort. He too was being held on $100,000 bail, according to the sheriff's department.

A third boy was identified as being at the school on the night of the tagging but was not responsible for any graffiti, the sheriff's department reported.

Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to call Investigator Devin Diyorio at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station: 951-791-3400.