Mexican gov’t official fired for painting teen’s buttocks as punishment for graffiti tagging

Mexican official fired for painting teen’s bottom

MEXICO CITY — A mayor in central Mexico says he has fired one of his town officials for spray-painting the buttocks of a teenage boy as punishment for graffiti tagging.

The mayor of San Juan del Rio in Queretaro state says police caught the 13-year-old tagging a wall last week and turned him over to the official. The official’s job is to impose penalties for petty crime.

Mayor Gustavo Nieto said Thursday that he fired the official because he should have notified the boy’s parents so they could pay for the damage, and not punish the teen personally. He did not identify the employee.