Police seeking Suspect in Hate Crime Graffiti Case

SAN LEANDRO, CA: San Leandro police are asking for help identifying the person or people responsible for spray-painting racial slurs and symbols last weekend on school district office doors. Shortly before 8 a.m. Monday, a San Leandro Unified School District employee found the slurs and symbols on office doors to an annex building at 14735 Juniper St.

Employees use the doors that were spray-painted, police said. The vandalism occurred sometime between Friday evening and early Monday morning. Investigators have been speaking with nearby residents, collecting evidence and reviewing surveillance video to identify a suspect or suspects.

"This crime is unacceptable," police Lt. Robert McManus said in a statement. "Our job is to ensure that all people are protected by state and constitutional laws, and to arrest those who are responsible for crimes such as this and bring them to justice," McManus said.

School district officials are cooperating in the investigation, police said. Employees removed the graffiti once police viewed it, school district spokeswoman Carla Spain said. School district officials notified staff of the graffiti on Monday morning and the district superintendent addressed the public about the case at a school board meeting Tuesday.

Anyone with information about the case is being asked to get in touch with the Police Department's criminal investigation division at (510) 577-3230.

By Bay City News

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