PORTLAND – Police on Wednesday arrested a 16-year-old Portland boy who allegedly went on a weekend vandalism spree, spray-painting racist and anti-Semitic graffiti on dozens of locations in the city.

The Deering High School sophomore admitted to police that he alone was responsible for drawing swastikas and racist remarks on tombstones at the Mount Sinai Cemetery, Portland Police Chief Michael Chitwood said Wednesday night.

“Apparently, at this point in time, we feel that he acted alone,” Chitwood said.

The boy, whose name was not released because of his age, was charged with aggregated aggravated criminal mischief, violation of probation, and desecration and defacement of a cemetery site. Chitwood said the boy vandalized 17 sites and caused $4,000 in damage. Chitwood said the teen was on probation for burglary and criminal mischief.

Two detectives have worked tirelessly to crack the case since the graffiti advocating killing Jews and blacks appeared Sunday morning, Chitwood said. Police retraced the scene several times and the boy’s name came up since he lived near the cemetery. Chitwood said the teen was very cooperative and confessed to the vandalism. Police were trying to determine the teen’s motive.

“He claims he doesn’t hate Jews,” Chitwood said. “He said he was angry with the cemetery caretaker because she had accused him of doing graffiti before when he didn’t.”

Chitwood said the boy has documented psychological issues, and has complained that he bullied at school. “When you look at the graffiti you can tell he has a lot of hatred inside him,” the chief said.

The teen was being held at the Maine Youth Center.

Chitwood said the incident brought the community together, and his office received many calls from people who wanted to help.

“Everybody was outraged whether they were black or white, Jewish or Catholic. It really, really showed that this type of activity will not be tolerated in our community,” Chitwood said.