New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“Chief Julie Flaherty reports that the Arlington Police Department arrested and charged a man Wednesday night in connection with hateful graffiti found at a Bluebike station in town.
ALBERT SILVA, AGE 65, OF ARLINGTON, was arrested and charged with four counts of Malicious Destruction of Property over $1,200.
On Wednesday, March 22 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.
While conducting a check of the area, the officer observed a vehicle parked next to the Bluebike station and a male, later identified as 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.
Arlington Police Department photo.
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.
“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.”
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”-Arlington Police Department.
