Jailed suspect rebooked for hate crime charge against Santa Cruz LGBTQ bar

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Santa Cruz police say a man already in jail for a crime has now been charged for a separate hate crime.

Surveillance images of the Tuesday morning incident depict who police say is 45-year-old James Eason. 

Eason is accused of etching an offensive message on the front of the Neighbor's Pub at 711 Pacific Avenue, a recently opened LGBTQ+bar.

Eason also allegedly tried to set the bar's front doors on fire, evidenced when officers responded around 3 a.m.

Police said they linked Eason to the crime by comparing the surveillance images to bodycam video from an earlier and unrelated arrest this week. 

Eason is facing additional charges of vandalism, hate crime, and arson for the Dec. 10 crime.