Police have arrested a local transient on suspicion of a hate crime for hanging a noose in the doorway of the offices of LGBT advocacy group Equality California last year.
Marten Joseph Brandel, 45, was arrested on suspicion of committing a hate crime and hanging a noose on private property when he showed up for a meeting with his parole officer in Irvine Friday, according to Sgt. Anthony Bertagna of Santa Ana PD.
A noose was found hanging on the front door of Equality California’s Santa Ana headquarters on October 29, 2010.
Bertagna said DNA on the noose matched samples already in the state system from Brandel, a transient with previous arrests ranging from drug possession to assaulting an officer as well as other property crimes.
When questioned by detectives, Brandel “admitted to committing the crime, but (didn’t’ say) why he committed it,” Bertagna said.
Brandel is being held without bail because he is on parole.
