Synopsis
The Sheriff has released information about the anti-semetic vandalism at Calabasas High School this past weekend. Three juvenile subjects have been identified. The Sheriff’s initial investigation has not revealed any evidence of racial or religious conflict at Calabasas High School.
More detail in the full announcement below about the statements by the subjects, and programs that Calabasas and the Sheriff already had in place, and are being added about tolerance and hate issues.
Full Text Announcement
Juveniles who vandalized Calabasas High School identified by sheriff’s detectives
Detectives with the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station have identified three juvenile subjects who recently vandalized Calabasas High School. The three teenagers are students of the high school.
Initial information obtained by sheriff’s detectives during the investigation provided no evidence of a racial or religious conflict at Calabasas High School. Based on the subjects statements, the spray painted messages were a result of the subjects feeling they had been mistreated during the school year.
The Sheriff’s Department investigation has revealed that the three teenage boys responsible for the vandalism did not intend to target a specific ethnicity or religion.
We have three students who were angry with a number of fellow students and teachers. They showed their frustration by spray painting extremely offensive words and symbols throughout the school grounds. The hurt that this has caused to the students, teachers and community, is much worse than the approximately $2,000.00 in damage to the school grounds.
The words and symbols were not focused on one ethnicity or religion. They included words and symbols that are anti-Semitic, as well as racial insults against African-Americans, and profanities directed at specific students and teachers who had upset them.
Based on the statements of the subjects and the content of their graffiti vandalism, their intent was to upset the people they felt had wronged them, rather than a criminal hate crime.
The subjects displayed remorse for their actions and a heightened understanding of the pain that they have caused. Because they are minors, no further information will be provided about their identities. Detectives are seeking criminal prosecution for felony vandalism and reimbursement to the school for the cost of the damages. The criminal investigation will continue with the eventual presentation of the evidence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office at Juvenile Court. All three are being arrested today.
Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff?s Station and the Las Virgines Unified School District continue to collaborate in providing and maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment.
Prior to this crime being committed during the late night hours of Friday, April 22, Calabasas High School officials had already arranged for a Holocaust survivor to speak with students at the school this week.
Enhancing the school district?s curriculum, the Los Angeles County Sheriff?s Department?s S.H.A.R.E. Tolerance education trailer will be at Calabasas High School this week and next week.
The S.H.A.R.E. (Stop Hate and Respect Everyone) Tolerance trailer and educational program of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be available at Calabasas High School this week. Sheriff’s deputies trained as facilitators will give presentations and discuss issues related to hate crimes with students.
The S.H.A.R.E. Tolerance is an award-winning program created to educate members of the community, particularly our youth, regarding the dangers of hate and intolerance. It was conceived and developed by deputy sheriffs who care about the problem and wanted to do something effective about it.
Utilizing a custom-built mobile theater, uniformed deputies show a 35-minute documentary film about hate crimes to groups of up to 24 people at a time. Afterwards, the deputies facilitate a 60-90 minute discussion about the film, the issues it presents, and the challenges of combating hate and intolerance.
Sheriff Lee Baca said, ?Deputy sheriffs and police officers have the public?s trust, they have leadership skills, and they care. S.H.A.R.E. Tolerance is a great example of our Department?s Core Values that each of us displays the courage to ?stand against racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and bigotry in all its forms.
See the S.H.A.R.E. Tolerance website including a 2-minute video, details about the program, facilitators, and photos:
http://sharetolerance.com/
http://la-sheriff.org/sharetolerance/program.html