Palo Alto Vandalism Case Triggers Hate Crime Investigation: Cops

PALO ALTO, CA — A vandalism incident at a Palo Alto parish is being investigated as a hate crime, police said.

The vandals spray painted a statue and a wall at Thomas Aquinas Pastoral Center at 3290 Middlefield Road with hate messaging, police said.

The facility houses the administrative offices for three Roman Catholic churches.

Officers at around 4 p.m. Friday responded to the parish on the report of the vandalism incident, which is believed to have occurred between Sept. 18-24, police said. The vandal wrote a phrase promoting white racial superiority, according to police.

The suspect sprayed the garden area of the office and a statue in pink, but the damage had already been repaired by the time the incident was reported, police said.

The investigation into this case is ongoing, police said.

“Officers will thoroughly investigate any reported hate crimes in Palo Alto,” the agency said.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the PAPD’s dispatch center at (650) 329-2413.

Anonymous tips can also be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.