Vandalism goes to extreme- reward offered

HATEFUL- Words of warning are scratched onto several areas of a car driven by an Agoura High School student. The student's mother called it a hate crime. An Agoura Hills family is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who has information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who purposely damaged their son's car while it was parked at Agoura High School on Oct. 25.

According to Shelley Riggs, the boys's mother, there were deep scratches in the car's paint that included threats of death, angry slurs and profanity. Riggs believes the incident may be gang-related.

"The damage is kind of alarming," said Detective J.T. Manwell, head of the Lost Hills Sheriff's Department Juvenile Intervention Team.

In addition to a rock being thrown through the back window, the car was scratched with a sharp object from top to bottom on one side. Riggs said the damage to the car totals more than $8,000.

A registered nurse with Los Angeles County Probation Department, Riggs believes the threats to her son and damage to the car may amount to a hate crime that, when combined with the charge of vandalism over $500 and a criminal threat, would constitute a triple felony. If over 18 years old the perpetrator faces a stiff sentence, she said.

While the slurs may have been hateful, they do not fit the legal definition of a hate crime, Manwell said. To be classified as a hate crime a victim must be targeted for their race, religion or gender orientation. But since the student was threatened with bodily harm the crime is being taken more seriously than an ordinary vandalism incident, he said.

"People in this area are living in a dream world," Riggs said in regard to what appears to be an upswing in crime at both Agoura High School and Calabasas High School. Rampant drug use is also being reported among teens.

Anyone with information about the incident or details about the reward are urged to call Detective J.T. Manwell at Lost Hills Sheriff's Station at (818) 8785543.

"It's kind of a whodunit right now," Manwell said.