Decatur Police Investigate Cemetery Vandalism

Decatur police are trying to find out who spraypainted racial and anti-Semitic slurs and obscenities on the gazebo, roadway and a wall at the Decatur City Cemetery.

The vandalism was discovered Saturday morning by a cemetery worker preparing for a service, said Joy Knight of the cemetery office.

The "most vulgar stuff" was covered up before the Sunday morning Veterans Day cememony, she said. Some phrases on the roadway were painted over but  words still showed through, she said.

A police report said officers found a partially submerged, three-ounce can of spray paint on the north side of a drainage pond. The price tag was still on the can.

The vandalism occurred in the historic section of the 54-acre cemetery, close to the curve in Commerce Drive.

It incluced drawings of a devil face, sex organs, references to Satan and racial and anti-Semitic slurs, the report said.

Knight said another vandalism incident ocurred about a month ago when somebody rubbed toothpaste on a grave marker. That marker has been repaired, she said.