Arlington Man Accused Of Hateful Graffiti At Bluebike Station

ARLINGTON, MA – Arlington Police have arrested and charged a man in connection with homophobic graffiti found at a Bluebike station in town, Chief Julian Flaherty said in a news release.

"I commend the officers involved in this case for their diligence in investigating suspicious activity," Arlington Police Chief Flaherty said in the announcement. "We want everyone in Arlington to feel that they are respected, accepted and welcomed.”

Albert Silva, 65, of Arlington, was arrested and charged Wednesday night with four counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,200.

At approximately 10:45 p.m. Wednesday night, an Arlington Police officer patrolling the area of Scannell Field observed a vehicle parked next to the Bluebike station, which had been vandalized with homophobic graffiti multiple times over the past month, police said.

The man, later identified as Silva, was standing near the car, but got back into the vehicle and drove away as the officer approached. The officer spotted graffiti written in red marker on the Bluebike station and followed the vehicle as it turned into an apartment complex nearby.

Officers returned to the Bluebike station and located additional graffiti on two pillars and a sign at the station, and identified Silva as the individual who had vandalized the Bluebike station in a subsequent investigation.

Silva was arrested and transported to Arlington Police station for booking. He was arraigned Thursday in Cambridge District Court.

“We do not tolerate hateful, discriminatory incidents in our community, and anyone found responsible for such acts will be held accountable,” said Flaherty in the news release. “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.”