Teens charged with middle school hate crime

Two Thousand Oaks High School students were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, vandalism and the commission of a hate crime, police said.

The arrests came on Feb. 19, two days after swastikas were painted on the locker of a 13yearold Jewish student at Redwood Middle School during the Presidents Day holiday weekend. After it became a symbol for the Nazi party, the swastika has been considered a symbol of hate and antiSemitism.

Police were called to the middle school on Feb. 17 to investigate the graffiti.

Soon afterward, police served six search warrants at the homes of several students suspected of being involved, a police report said.

Two male suspects, both 15, were arrested, charged and released into their parents' custody.

"We are continuing to investigate to determine if this was a part of a larger problem," Ventura County Sheriff 's Department spokesperson Detective Eric Buschow said.

The hate crime could be an isolated incident or it could be connected with gangs, such as outlaw or white supremacist gangs, he said.

"Hate crimes are uncommon in Thousand Oaks and are disturbing at any age level," Buschow said.

School resource officers, the special enforcement gang unit and the major crimes unit are working together on the investigation.

Rabbi Ted Riter would like the community's religious leaders to present a program to students at local schools about the importance of acceptance.

The Temple Adat Elohim leader expressed sadness that children had to see the "horribly disturbing" act of vandalism with such a "symbol of hate."

"Jewish or not, it makes children and everyone who witnessed it feel unsafe. It's not just a Jewish issue; it's an issue to any minority—the swastika is a hurtful symbol that stands for something much deeper that threatens anyone who is not a part of the majority," Riter said.