A man suspected of vandalizing a Costa Mesa, California mural in October was arrested when appearing in court for an unrelated matter, police said Jan. 31.
Daniel Alec Hotte, 27, of Dana Point, was taken into custody Jan. 30 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach on a warrant, and was charged with vandalism and a hate crime for allegedly painting “white supremacist language” over the landmark, Roxi Fyad, a spokesperson for the Costa Mesa Police Department, said in a statement.
“Vandalism crimes like this can often go unsolved,” Costa Mesa Police Chief Ron Lawrence said in a statement. “I commend the quick action of the witnesses to capture evidence of the incident and the great police work of the Costa Mesa Police Department that solved this case.”
The large mural that commemorates Latina heritage, was vandalized Oct. 31 after being created just weeks earlier by an all-woman crew led by Orange County artist Alicia Rojas, according to authorities.
Alerted to the vandalism, officers arrived on scene in the 3000 block of Killybrooke Lane to find the words “white power,” among others, spraypainted over the mural.
Witnesses observed the suspect vandalizing it and reported the crime, providing video of the incident to police, according to Fyad.
Hotte was identified as the suspect, but could not immediately be found, according to Fyad, until investigators learned he had an impending court date.
“This type of crime flies in the face of what we have achieved as a multi-cultural community. I’m grateful for the witnesses who came forward to help identify him and thankful the police stayed on the case and captured the suspect,” Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens said in a statement Jan. 31.
Anyone who may have been a witness to the incident and has not spoken to the Costa Mesa Police Department is urged to contact Investigator Eric Molina at 714-754-5694, or Sgt. Matt Selinske at 714-754-5093.
