News Release: Police Investigate Vandalism at Church as Hate Crime
Police are investigating a vandalism at a church as a hate crime, after an unknown suspect ripped down a pride flag that had been mounted to the exterior.
On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at about 10:58 a.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a report of a vandalism at the First Lutheran Church at 600 Homer Avenue called in by a church employee.
The investigation revealed that at some point between May 7 and May 11, an unknown suspect had ripped a pride flag and its mounting bracket off the front exterior of the church and left it on the ground. The wall was damaged. There is no suspect information.
To view details on other hate crime vandalisms reported in Palo Alto, visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/PAPDnews and search by keyword “hate.” There is no known connection between this case and others in the past.
Officers will thoroughly investigate any reported hate crimes in Palo Alto. You are welcome to read a blog post from the City entitled “Steps the Community Can Take to Help Stop Hate Crimes.” The City of Palo Alto strongly denounces hate crimes of all kinds and encourages members of our community to promptly report these incidents by calling our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413, or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to [email protected] or sent via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.
Address/Location
Palo Alto Police Department
275 Forest Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 650-329-2406