Massachusetts man arrested in connection with multiple incidents of hateful graffiti found

Police in Massachusetts have arrested and charged a man in connection to what they say was hateful graffiti found at a Bluebike station.

According to Chief Julie Flaherty, on Wednesday, at approximately 10:45 p.m., an Arlington Police officer was conducting a directed patrol in the area of Scannell Field where a Bluebike station has been vandalized with homophobic graffiti multiple times over the past month.

Bluebike Station Courtesy of the City of Cambridge

While conducting a check of the area, the officer observed a vehicle parked next to the Bluebike station and a male, later identified as 65-year-old Albert Silva, standing near the car. As the officer approached, the man got back into the vehicle and drove away. The officer noticed graffiti written in red marker on the Bluebike station and followed the vehicle, which turned into an apartment complex a short distance away.

As part of their investigation, officers went back to the Bluebike station and located additional graffiti on two pillars and a sign at the station.

Through a subsequent investigation, which included speaking with Silva, he was identified as the individual who had allegedly written on the Bluebike station. He was arrested without incident and transported to the Arlington Police station for booking.

Silva was arraigned Thursday in Cambridge District Court on four counts of Malicious Destruction of Property over $1,200.

“I commend the officers involved in this case for their diligence in investigating suspicious activity,” Chief Flaherty said. “We want everyone in Arlington to feel that they are respected, accepted and welcomed. We do not tolerate hateful, discriminatory incidents in our community, and anyone found responsible for such acts will be held accountable. We are grateful for our partnerships with Arlington’s Health and Human Services, The Arlington Rainbow Commission and the Arlington Human Rights Commission who have been working with us to raise awareness around hateful acts.”