A 26-year employee of the Niagara Falls public works department was arrested on Friday and charged with a hate crime.

James Curtis, 52, is accused of writing a racist sign that was discovered on August 13 above a drinking fountain at the DPW building on New Road.

The sign, handwritten on white copy paper in blue pen ink states, "Whites only water fountain." A minority city employee discovered the sign.

Curtis is charged with second degree aggravated harrassment, a hate crime under state law. He was released on $500 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Niagara Falls City Court on Tuesday morning.