Boy Arrested For 25 Taggings At Petaluma Park: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma boy was arrested in connection with over 25 taggings at a local park, some of which contained racially derogatory drawings and words, police said.

The Petaluma Police Department was alerted to the graffiti at Leghorns Park on Feb. 17 and the investigating officer found more than two-dozen taggings in the children's play area, the men's bathroom, and near the tennis courts of the park at 690 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma police Lt. Tim Lyons said.

"The taggings were done with both large and small paint markers," Lyons said. "The graffiti contained some racially derogatory drawings and words."

Maintenance crews with the city's Parks and Recreation Department spent several hours cleaning up the graffiti. The estimated cost of the cleanup was $2,500, Lyons said.

The investigating officer found paperwork at the scene that pointed toward a possible suspect.

A detective who specializes in hate crimes found video surveillance in the adjoining Leghorn Marketplace shopping center that helped identify the suspect, Lyons said.

On Tuesday, Petaluma police arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of felony vandalism, defacing property with the intent to intimidate, threaten and person based upon race, nationality; and possession of a paint marker.

The teen was released to a parent.

Leghorns Park will soon have cameras installed to help deter criminal activity.

"Hate crimes of any type will not be tolerated and will be pursued aggressively," Lyons said.
"If evidence of a racially motivated hate crime is found to have occurred, we will fully seek prosecution under the law."