Police in Saratoga have arrested a man suspected in a string of incidents of dark-complected dolls being hung by nooses in trees at area schools last year, the department announced.

Last November, the Sheriff’s Office was notified by Redwood Middle School officials that a dark-complected doll was hanging from a tree on campus. The doll had a noose tied around its neck. Two days later, another doll was found at Prospect High School. Then a day after that, a similar doll was found hanging at Saratoga High.  

The Sheriff’s hate crime unit eventually identified three suspects in the case.  

On Wednesday, a male suspect who was a juvenile at the time of the crimes was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of three felony counts of “terrorism by symbol.” 

“Hate has no place in our community and the Sheriff’s Office will leave no stone unturned until individuals who bring hate to our county are held accountable.” Sheriff Robert Jonsen

The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing.  

“The Sheriff’s Office unequivocally condemns all acts of hate, including hate crimes, and would like to remind the public to please report such acts to the Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency,” said the office on Wednesday. 

“Hate has no place in our community and the Sheriff’s Office will leave no stone unturned until individuals who bring hate to our county are held accountable,” said Sheriff Robert Jonsen. 

Anyone with information on this active investigation is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (408) 808-4500. Alternatively, anyone can contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431. 

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.