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16-year-old student arrested for alleged hateful graffiti at San Dieguito Academy

Students, faculty, parents and community members showed up at San Dieguito High School in Encinitas to show their support for marginalized communities hurt by the racist graffiti left on the school's walls over the new year's weekend, Jan. 3, 2022.
Matthew Bowler / KPBS

A San Dieguito Academy High School student was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of defacing the campus with racist and homophobic graffiti on New Year's Day.

RELATED: San Dieguito Academy defaced again with racial, homophobic slurs

The 16-year-old boy, whose name was withheld because he is a minor, allegedly spray-painted the bigoted slurs on an administration building at the Encinitas secondary school at about 4 a.m. on Jan. 1, causing about $700 worth of damage, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

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After being taken into custody and questioned, the teen was released to the custody of his parents pending court proceedings, Sgt. Paul Michalke said.

"This case will be presented to the San Diego (County) District Attorney's Office for prosecution and review," the sergeant said.

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