Mariners, Newport Harbor schools ‘tagged,’ spokeswoman says

Newport-Mesa Unified School District maintenance workers were painting over graffiti — some of it reported to be racist in nature — at a pair of schools Monday morning.

Newport Harbor High School and Mariners Elementary School were “tagged” with graffiti over the weekend, according to Newport-Mesa Unified spokeswoman Laura Boss.

She said the vandalism was reported to Newport Beach police and that officers came out, took pictures and are in the process of investigating.

Newport Beach police could not be reached for comment on the details of what was painted on the walls of both schools.

Boss said she did not know the content of the graffiti. However, neighbors in the vicinity told the Daily Pilot that racial slurs and swastikas were painted on walls at Mariners. The information, however, could not be independently confirmed.

Newport Beach Police Sgt. Doug Jones also said he could not verify what was painted at the schools, but added that such vandalism occurs all the time in the city.

Mariners Principal Pam Coughlin could not be reached for comment.