EVANSDALE -- Two East High School students were booked in conjunction with recent racially-targeted vandalism at Jewett Elementary School, and the mayor of Evansdale simultaneously released a statement denouncing the act Wednesday.

Nicholas Presley, 15, and Jered Schanke, 14, both residents of Evansdale and students at East High School, were taken into custody Wednesday morning on charges of third-degree criminal mischief, an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine up to $5,000.

That charge, however, could be bumped up to a class D felony if the cost for clean-up exceeds $1,000. Sharon Miller, spokesperson for Waterloo Community Schools, said she won't know the exact cost of the clean-up until at least Thursday, and said personnel costs for overtime pay as well as cleaning supplies will be factored in to the total.

A class D felony is punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine up to $7,500.

The youths were located after a tip came in to the Evansdale Police Department, according to Chief Randy Weber.

"We've got some confidential informants, and they gave us a pretty good lead to Presley," Evansdale Police Chief Randy Weber said. "We brought him in for questioning, and that led us to Schanke."

Weber said he doesn't believe there were other perpetrators, and does not know the motive for the crime. No court date has been set.

The vandalism is the third instance of racially-motivated graffiti in Evansdale in the past 15 months. This time, "KKK" and another phrase telling a group to "go home" were written up to two feet high on all sides of Jewett Elementary and on the street Oct. 13.

In a statement, Evansdale Mayor John Mardis denounced the youths' action as well as the graffiti, after taking fire from community organizations for previously refusing to come out with a statement in the days afterward.

"It has been and is my contention that actions always speak louder than words," Mardis wrote in the release. "I know that Evansdale does not and will not tolerate or condone hate speech however delivered. That lack of tolerance for such behavior is directly responsible for the arrests that were made today."

Mardis continued, "Those responsible for this affront will be punished to the limit the law allows … We wish to use effective means of discouraging this sort of offensive behavior by delinquent youngsters. We believe that swift apprehension and stiff penalties are the appropriate means."

David Meeks, executive director of the Waterloo Commission on Humans Rights, applauded police for apprehending the juveniles but continued to insist Mardis should have released his statement immediately, instead of waiting for an arrest to be made.

"What does it say when you don't catch a culprit? Does that mean you tolerate it?" Meeks said. "It's not about catching a culprit. It's about denouncing the acts of hatred toward the community."

Twelve Black Hawk County organizations have joined with the Waterloo Commission on Human Rights in denouncing the racial slurs, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People of Black Hawk County, the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission, El Centro Latinoamericano and the Eastside Ministerial Alliance.

"We, in a collective voice of support, diligence and continuing efforts to create a welcoming community for all our residents and neighbors, denounce the acts of hate which occurred on the weekend of October 13, 2007," said the 13-member coalition, in a two-page release Wednesday before the arrests were made public.

The 13 organizations form a community coalition that releases a collective statement after each hate crime in the area, Meeks said. The coalition also holds proactive events, such as the Summer Harmony Day in Waterloo, conferences on race, and job fairs.

Adding to the voices was Rick Hibben, Ward 3 city councilman in Evansdale, who came out against the graffiti before Mardis or the rest of the council. In a letter to the editor in today's Courier, he wrote that he was "saddened" by the event, and the accompanying image it forms of Evansdale.

"I can't speak for all Evansdale citizens, but I certainly do not want to be associated with the type of small minded bias that still exists, though many of us would like to believe is (sic) only a part of our history," he wrote.

Hibben said he felt compelled to come forward, especially in light of Mardis' previous reluctance to denounce the recent vandalism as racist.

"If no one else is going to stand up, then I'm going to stand up," Hibben said in a phone interview.

He added that he's surprised at the "negative comments" he's seen on community Web sites and the Courier blogs regarding the issue. In an e-mail, Hibben wrote, "I would also like to ask why I am wrong for just standing up for what I believe in. I know that we aren't going to eliminate racism, but I certainly hope that this is an issue that we at least need to talk about."

The Evansdale City Council will meet in special session Tuesday at City Hall and discuss a separate matter, but Hibben said citizens are always welcome to any council meeting and they may add to the discussion about the vandalism at that time.

Meeks said officials from the U.S. Department of Justice will be meeting privately with the community coalition and separately with Mardis in order to develop tools and training in the city's response to any future hate crimes. Waterloo, Cedar Falls and other cities in Iowa have undertaken similar interventions, Meeks said.

Meeks also said he does not buy the logic that the media attention gives the perpetrators the attention they crave.

"The perpetrators already received attention when they spray-painted an entire building," he said. "The response by the community brings attention to the fact that the act will not be tolerated."

Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.