Swastikas painted on vehicles, homes in Burbank; man arrested
An 18-year-old Burbank man has been arrested on suspicion of spray-painting swastikas and derogatory comments on 13 vehicles and homes in Burbank’s hillside area, police said.
Drew Benda was arrested Monday after police responded to reports of a young man vandalizing properties in the area of Walnut Avenue and Bel Aire Drive, said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn.
With red spray paint, Benda allegedly painted swastikas and derogatory comments on different trucks, walls and garage doors within a six-block area, causing thousands of dollars of damage, Ryburn told the Burbank Leader.
Ryburn also said police found no indication that the crimes were directed at any specific person.
Benda was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony vandalism and committing a hate crime. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Authorities on Tuesday were presenting the case to the hate crime division of the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Benda is due in court later this week.
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Twitter: @atchek
Alene Tchekmedyian is a Times Community News staff writer.
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