33-Year-Old Arrested In Racist Vandalism Investigation

Charged with vandalism with an enhancement for a "hate crime," says police.

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New Smyrna Beach, FL - A 33-year-old man has been arrested after police determined he graffitied racial slurs on a man's car in July.

The New Smyrna Beach Police Department says the man responsible is Kyle Christiansen, who has since been arrested on vandalism charges with an enhancement for a hate crime; a charge that resulted in a $10,000 bond.

According to police, the victim found racial slurs graffitied on his two vehicles, in addition to nails that were discovered under the tires of his pickup truck, back on July 29th.

Investigators soon had a lead for a suspect vehicle, which led authorities to identify Christiansen, a relative of the car's registered owner.

A search warrant executed on his social media further supported the lead obtained by police, which resulted in a felony vandalism charge, as damages were over $1,000, with the enhancement for a “hate crime.”

NSB police detectives later obtained an arrest warrant for Christiansen and arrested him with the assistance of the Daytona Beach Police Department.