Note: This video is from Sept. 25.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A custodian was placed on leave and charged by the St. Charles County Police Department after allegedly writing racist graffiti in the bathroom at Francis Howell High School.
The disturbing graffiti with racial slurs and references to sexual violence was discovered last week. It was reported by a student before being quickly removed by administrators.
Wednesday, custodian Tyler Carter was arrested and charged with second-degree property damage and harassment motivated by discrimination to frighten or disturb. Records say Carter entered several classrooms and bathrooms on Sept. 23 writing racially derogatory statements, sexually explicit words, and poured chemicals on items in custodial closets.
Surveillance footage revealed he was the only person to enter the rooms with the graffiti in the timeframe.
Carter admitted to the incident to police, saying he was “tired of cleaning graffiti left by students” and “he targeted the African American community because he believed the graffiti had been left by individuals of the that ethnicity.” Additionally, records say Carter told officials he held a bias from being bullied as a kid.
In an email to families of Francis Howell Wednesday, Interim Superintendent Mark Delaney condemned the act, saying,
“I want to express my apologies for this incident and the effect it has had on students, fellow employees at Francis Howell High School, and the broader Francis Howell community. All students and staff deserve to feel safe and welcome at school. You have my commitment that we will continue our efforts to create safe and welcoming learning environments for all students.”
Carter is being held on a $50,000 bond.
