OVIEDO, Fla. -- Oviedo police arrested a teen Saturday after an African-American family found a noose hanging from a tree in their front yard. The 15-year-old is now facing a felony charge for actions police ruled a hate crime.

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SLIDESHOW: Noose Hanging From Tree In African-American Family's Yard
POLICE DOCUMENTS: Arrest Report (PDF) | Media Release

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Police said they arrived at a home along Lake Rogers Circle in the Lake Rogers Estate subdivision early Saturday afternoon in reference to a noose hanging from a tree. Police arrived and found the noose hanging from a tree in the front yard of a family who had been living in the home for about three months.

Police said they searched the neighborhood and spoke to 15-year-old Andrew Mathews at his home down the street. Police said, during questioning, Mathews grinned, giggled and then smiled when asked if he knew anything about the noose.

Mathews was then arrested and charged him with simple assault with the intentional threat to do violence and trespassing, both misdemeanors. Officers also added a hate crime enhancement of charges.

Due to the actions being called a hate crime, the teen's charges were enhanced, meaning the trespass charge was upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony charge.

Eyewitness News was unable to get either the suspect's family or the victims to comment.