Noose Found In Men's Bathroom At Grosse Pointe Restaurant: Police

GROSSE POINTE, MI — Grosse Pointe Police are investigating a hate crime after a noose made out of paper towels was found hanging in the men's bathroom Saturday at a restaurant in downtown Grosse Pointe.

The noose was found by a Black employee at the Panera Bread on 17150 Kercheval Avenue, police said. Police did not determine if the noose was targeted at him or anyone else.

Grosse Pointe Chief of Police John Alcorn told The Detroit News the restaurant was busy that evening, but said they are looking at a group of white male teens who went into the bathroom at the same time.

"They were in the store and in the bathroom at the same time that this happened, but they're not the only people we're looking at," Alcorn told the outlet. "A noose is a symbol of hate, murder and violence, so it's taken very seriously."

Although Grosse Pointe is a majority white city, the Panera staff at the restaurant on Kercheval Avenue is not, according to Fox 2 Detroit.

"Ninety-nine percent of us who work here is Black, so it’s no way around it that that wasn’t intended for us," Assistant General Manager Kareema Regular told the news station.

Grosse Pointe Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak asked anyone with information to call Grosse Pointe's Public Safety Department at 313-886-3200, extension 2244.

"This is a hate crime that is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community," Tomkowiak said. "The noose, which is a symbol of human oppression and violence, has no place here. Any attempts at racial intimidation will be dealt with to the full extent of the law."