Suspected Hate Crime Investigated In Petaluma: Police

PETALUMA, CA — The Petaluma Police Department is investigating a hate crime in which someone wrote derogatory hate speech in dust on a car parked in Northeast Petaluma.

A picture of the hate speech showed up on social media and was brought to the attention of the Petaluma Police department Tuesday, police said.

"Officers were immediately assigned to the incident and worked to identify the owner of the vehicle," Petaluma police said in a news release.

Officers tracked down and spoke with the victim, who confirmed finding the hate speech on their car windows. The victim told police it must've happened sometime between Thursday, June 11, and Friday, June 12, while their car was parked and otherwise undamaged.

Police processed the car for any potential evidence, and were continuing to check the area for surveillance video footage of the suspect.

Police did not say what was written on the car, nor did they give a specific address.

"Hate crimes and hate speech are not welcome in our community and the Petaluma Police Department takes hate crimes and hate speech related incidents incredibly serious," police said. "Hate crime offense are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to call the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4373 and reference case number 20-1995.