A park in Camarillo was vandalized with graffiti that included what appeared to be a swastika and a racial slur Aug. 24.
The vandalism was reported shortly before 7 a.m. at Community Center Park on Burnley Street, said Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Mike McConville. The sheriff’s office is contracted to provide police services to the city of Camarillo.
Deputies responded and found what they described as a backward swastika, a racial slur and numerous depictions of male genitalia tagged in red paint across a utility box and temporary sign, sheriff’s officials said.
“We don’t tolerate that type of graffiti and any graffiti that’s racial in nature,” said Capt. Jason Hendren of the sheriff’s Camarillo station.
The sheriff’s office is investigating the incident as a hate crime, but investigators don’t believe the graffiti was directed at anyone in the area, said Hendren who serves as assistant chief of the Camarillo station. Investigators suspect juveniles were behind the tagging based on video obtained by the agency, he added.
No arrests had been made as of 8 a.m. Aug. 25, and the paint had been removed, officials said.
Graffiti depicting a swastika, racial slur and genitalia was painted on the garage of a Black family in June, noted Camarillo City Councilmember Martita Martinez-Bravo.
“Every person that lives here, works here or plays here deserves to feel safe and valued,” said Martinez-Bravo in response to the two incidents.
Despite the similarities, investigators do not suspect the graffiti at the two sites is connected, Hendren said.
In recent months, alleged hate incidents and vandalism have occurred across the county.
A Ventura man pleaded guilty on Aug. 19 to felony charges for hate crimes and vandalism for spray painting swastikas across Ventura. In May, two teenagers were arrested for painting the same symbol at Newbury Park High School.
Earlier this month, teens in Simi Valley were heard using a racial epithet during an assault outside the Regal Cinema on Tapo Canyon. Five teens face possible charges for a hate crime.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Camarillo park vandalized with swastika, racial slur
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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