San Francisco police arrested a man Saturday after officers discovered swastikas and antisemitic and anti-gay words painted on a Pacific Heights church.
Officers responded to reports of graffiti on the 2800 block of California Street at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, saw fresh paint and arrested Sadat Mousa, 51. Police estimated the damages exceed $20,000. Representatives of the San Francisco Seventh-day Adventist Church-Central did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday.
“This kind of hateful act will never be tolerated in our city,” Police Chief Derrick Lew said in a statement. “We will do everything in our power to protect our communities and ensure justice is served in this case. I want to thank our officers who acted swiftly to make an arrest in this case.”
Mousa was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of felony vandalism with a hate crime enhancement, terrorism for desecrating a cross on private property, and possession of graffiti instruments.
Mousa appears to have a history with law enforcement, including a prison sentence for making threats of violence to family members in a 2010 domestic violence case.
His bond was set at $100,000.
This article originally published at Man arrested after swastikas, hate words painted on S.F. church.