Suspect Arrested in Hate Crime Vandalism Targeting LA's Jewish Community

Hate crime suspect wanted
Photo credit LAPD

A man was in custody today as a suspect in a series of vandalism incidents involving three schools in the Beverlywood, Pico- Robertson and Brentwood areas, and a number of vehicles that were spray-painted with graffiti, some of it described as anti-Semitic.

Israel Herrera Perez, 44, was arrested on Thursday, booked on suspicion of felony vandalism, and held on $120,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles police and sheriff's departments.

"Investigators were also able to connect Perez to similar acts of vandalism in the Calabasas Community in Los Angeles County," the LAPD reported in a statement. "The investigation is ongoing and no additional suspect(s) have been identified at this time."

anti-Jewish vandalismLAPD

Police on Wednesday had released video footage of a person thought to have scrawled graffiti throughout the West Los Angeles area between Saturday and Monday.

Police released video of a suspect wanted for vandalism hate crimes against LA's Jewish community.

According to a report on the website LAist.com, the Westside campuses where the anti-Semitic graffiti was found included American Jewish University in Bel Air and Westwood Charter School.

CNS contributed to this story.