LA Hate Crime Suspect Busted Because Of His Telltale Clothes: LAPD

LOS ANGELES, CA — A man was arrested Tuesday after a patrol officer noticed him wearing the same clothes as a suspect caught on camera vandalizing the Islamic Center of Southern California's Koreatown building with hate speech over the weekend, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Carlos Moran, 43, who is homeless, was booked on suspicion of "church vandalism" with a hate crime enhancement, and on a misdemeanor warrant, and was held on $85,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the vandal used a permanent marker to vandalize the building at 434 S. Vermont Ave. just after 12:30 a.m. Easter morning. Moran was arrested at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday and allegedly had a black sharpie in his possession, the LAPD reported.

"Olympic patrol officers were directed to the 500 block of Shatto Place, where they identified an individual matching the description of the hate crime suspect, who appeared to wearing the same clothing with the exception of a T-shirt from the night of the incident," LAPD Chief Michel Moore told the city Police Commission on Tuesday morning.

Specifically, Moran was wearing the same beanie, jacket, pants, and shoes described in the Community Alert, according to the LAPD.

"During the investigation, the officers reviewed the surveillance video provided by the Islamic Center and identified Moran as the suspect wanted for the vandalism/hate crime incident," the LAPD said in written statement.

Moore said the suspect appeared to be suffering from some type of mental health issue.

"There were questions regarding some of his expressions which professed hatred toward Muslims, but also referenced a king and number 222," Moore said. "According to information we've gathered from our interview with this individual, he believes that he is a king, and his birthday was February 22, which helps explain the markings.

"What is unexplainable is the professed hatred he expressed and some of the other markings that are on those columns (of the center)," he said. "We will continue to work this investigation and work with our District Attorney's Office."

The Islamic Center of Southern California has denounced the act on social media.

"This hate crime is a reminder that we must stand together locally and internationally as a community against all forms of hate, bigotry, and violence. We must remain vigilant and work towards creating a society that is inclusive, tolerant, and respects the beliefs and traditions of all communities," center officials wrote.

At an early afternoon news conference Monday, local leaders decried the act of vandalism and rising numbers of reported hate crimes in general.

"We're better together," said Brian Williams, the city's deputy mayor of public safety. "We're stronger together and we're better than what happened last night or the other night in our community, and we're just not going to stand for it. So the mayor is behind you 100%, the city's family is behind you 100%. We're going to stand together to defeat this evil that's occurring within our community."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.