Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Spray-painted swastika determined to be vandalism, not hate crime

(From the Springfield Police Department)

Springfield police were dispatched to 815 E. Locust after the victim reported a vandalism at her residence that occurred sometime in the previous 26 hours. A swastika was spray-painted on the front door of the victim’s residence, and her car was also vandalized. The car had been egged, the front windshield was smashed and the exterior mirrors were damaged.

Springfield police were also dispatched to 900 N. Fulbright on March 25 for a separate vandalism that occurred during the same timeframe as the incident on E. Locust. The victims’ residence had been egged and racial slurs, a swastika and sexual images had been spray-painted on their vehicle. In this incident on Fulbright, suspects caused more than $5,000 in property damages, which far exceeds the felony threshold.

Through follow-up investigation, police were able to connect four male suspects to these two cases. Suspects range in age from 18-21, and they are acquainted with residents of the vandalized properties. It has been determined that these cases were pranks and not racially-motivated hate crimes. The victims have been kept informed throughout the investigation.

Suspects have been interviewed by police, but no arrests have been made at this time. The Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is reviewing the cases and will make a determination as to any charges that may be filed.

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