French immersion school graffiti suspect arrested
SAN FRANCISCO - Police in San Francisco on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the vandalism attack on the French American International School earlier this week, according to authorities.
The French American International School on Oak Street is a private school that offers students a French immersion experience.
On Tuesday, maintenance workers noticed an Islamic symbol painted on a schoolyard wall and the playground surface. The school immediately called police.
“Originally there was concern that it might be tied to ISIS, but our preliminary investigation shows that it's not that,” said San Francisco Police Capt. Greg McEachern. “It's more of a domestic group and our special investigations division are looking into the vandalism, trying to figure out who did it, what their reasons were.”
Officers also located a number seven painted on the playground surface. Surveillance video obtained from the scene captured a person of interest entering the playground overnight when the school was closed. This information was distributed to all officers via a crime bulletin with a request to locate the person for further investigation.
On Wednesday, officers on routine patrol in the area of Masonic Avenue and Fulton Street spotted a person who matched the description of the suspect given in the crime bulletin.
The suspect was questioned by members of the SFPD Special Investigations Division and was identified as Edward Vanwright, a 44-years-old male transient. Vanwright was booked on misdemeanor charges of trespassing and vandalism.
Vanwright has a prior conviction requiring him to register as a sex registrant, and as such, was also charged with being a sex registrant present on school grounds.
Investigators have determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge Vanwright with a hate crime. The investigation did not reveal any connection to terrorism and there is no threat to the school, students, or staff.
Although an arrest has been made, anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the SFPD Anonymous Tip Line (415) 575-4444, or Text A Tip to TIP411 and include "SFPD" in the opening of the message.