Racist graffiti was found on a sidewalk in this neighborhood Tuesday. On Thursday, city police arrested Philip Rienzi, 44, of Butler and charged him with criminal mischief and ethnic intimidation, both misdemeanors.

A Butler City man has been arrested after he admitted to painting a racist graffiti message at a home on East Brady Street, according to Butler City Police.

“The graffiti was derogatory to African Americans,” said Butler Police Chief Bob O'Neill.

Philip Rienzi, 44, of Butler was arrested Thursday for allegedly painting a racist message Tuesday on a sidewalk outside the home in question.

O'Neill said the family who lives in the home where the vandalism occurred is Black.

“Very rarely do people put graffiti on private residences,” he said. “We view that as very serious, especially with how things are going.”

According to a police report, officers responded when a pedestrian in the area called about the graffiti.

According to the report, the investigating officer canvassed the area and located video leading to Rienzi as a suspect, who during questioning admitted to spray painting the sidewalk.

“He offered the reason for this action was because of recent interactions he had with the male resident,” O'Neill said.

Rienzi has been charged with criminal mischief and ethnic intimidation, both misdemeanors.

Police said the city Parks Department attempted to remove the graffiti, but was unable. However, the landlord responded and cleaned it off.

A representative for the landlord, Interstate Builders, said the company has zero tolerance for hate crimes.

The company dispatched personnel Tuesday to perform a chemical cleaning of the graffiti, which did not clear the message off the sidewalk. The crews returned Wednesday with additional equipment to finish cleaning off the sidewalk.

“These are different times. It's surprising to see that level of expression is still alive,” said the representative for the landlord, who didn't want to provide his name. “Butler is a great city, and it's a great place to live. You expect more.”

Butler Mayor Ben Smith said the act and sentiment behind the message was unacceptable, but he felt that is an instance of a civil dispute between neighbors.

“I don't think it's endemic of a larger issue,” Mayor Smith said. “By and large, we have a very accepting community.”

Butler City Councilman Jeff Smith agreed this seemed like an instance in which the wrong decision of one person should not be construed as an indication of a community's mindset.

“Like everywhere, we have our share of knuckleheads,” Councilman Smith said.

Councilman Smith said he was disappointed and upset when he heard about the message, and he went down to read the spray-painted comment himself.

He said the swift action and investigation by the police department showed the stance the city takes on this type of crime. He said he also respected the landlord's willingness to clean up the graffiti quickly.

“I think the reaction of the city and the property owners speaks highly of the city,” Councilman Smith said. “We can't prevent people from doing stupid things, but we can make sure there's consequences for it when they do.”