Man Arrested in Cal Lutheran Hate Crime Probe

Authorities have arrested a 21-year-old Thousand Oaks man in connection with a spate of racially charged graffiti on the Cal Lutheran University campus.

Kevin Tam was arrested about 5 p.m. Friday in Thousand Oaks on suspicion of vandalism and participating in a hate crime, said Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Det. Laurie Camou. A campus official identified Tam as a Cal Lutheran student.

In recent weeks campus officials have reported at least 10 incidents of vandalism, including slogans offensive to African Americans, scrawled on bathroom walls and information kiosks. Also, one flier targeting homosexuals and two handbills promoting the neo-Nazi movement were slipped under office doors in the past six weeks.

Officials said there was also graffiti containing Vietnamese obscenities.

Camou did not specify exactly what Tam is suspected of doing, nor have officials said whether they believe there is a connection between the graffiti and the hate materials. Authorities said the investigation is continuing.

News of the arrest was welcomed by campus officials.

“We are certainly pleased that the Sheriff’s Department was able to find someone who’s allegedly involved with this. We certainly don’t tolerate something like this on our campus,” said Lynda Fulford, director of campus public information.

Fulford said the vandalism and other acts are a first at the 2,500-student university.

“We hope this brings it to a close,” she said.