UPDATED March 31: Arlington police have charged a 65-year-old town man in connection with hateful graffiti found at a Bluebike station in town. Albert Silva was arrested with four counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,200.

The arrest follows incidents involving at Arlington High School and elsewhere, as well as a demonstration by an estimated 300 teachers last week. 

A March 23 news release reports that on Wednesday, March 22, at about 10:45 p.m., an Arlington officer was conducting a directed patrol in the area of Scannell Field, near Spy Pond, in East Arlington, where a Bluebike station had 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.

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.

The news release does not describe the Bluebike graffiti more specifically.

Silva was arraigned Thursday, March 23, in Cambridge District Court.

"I commend the officers involved in this case for their diligence in investigating suspicious activity," Chief Julie Flaherty said in the release. "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.”

Feb. 20, 2023: Boston police detain Arlington pair, ages 11 and 12, after beatings alleged at Downtown Crossing

This news summary was published Thursday, March 23, 2023, based on information from a news release by Leah Comins of John Guilfoil Public Relations as well as YourArlington's archives. It was updated March 31, to add ACMi video.