Three juveniles have each been charged with criminal mischief and a hate crime, after they reportedly sprayed racist graffiti at several locations in Melcher-Dallas on Wednesday night.

Melcher-Dallas police and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office investigated after the graffiti was found on several properties, including a private home, a pickup truck and two buildings at the Little League field.

Police Chief Steve Johns says security video at the ballpark showed the suspects, with at least one holding a can of spray paint; police were able to identify the juveniles involved, and take them into custody.

Chief Johns says this is far from something to be expected in Melcher-Dallas; he says American society has generally risen above this sort of thing, and finding such racist conduct is shocking when it does happen.

He hopes the youths involved learn from this there are certain social boundaries which can’t be crossed.